Co Antrim teacher had one of highest alcohol in breath readings ever recorded in Northern Ireland after crashing car into lamp post
A teacher who had one of the highest alcohol in breath readings ever recorded in Northern Ireland was more than five times the legal limit after crashing a Ford Focus into a lamp post.
Emma Agnew (46), of Portmore Hall in Crumlin, had an evidential alcohol in breath reading of 181 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35 in 100.
She was at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in breath at, according to the charge sheet, Portmore Hall, on Tuesday March 10 this year.
A prosecutor said at 4.45pm on March 10 a report was received that a Ford Focus collided with a lamp post outside an address. When police spoke to the defendant at her home address she confirmed she had been driving and that she had "been in an accident".
She failed a preliminary breath sample - that reading was not given in court. When taken to a police station she had an evidential reading of 181 in breath.
District Judge Peter Magill confirmed that the time on March 10 had been 4.45pm and said the defendant had said "she hadn't been drinking that day, drinking the day before".
A defence barrister said the defendant had "topped up" after the collision. The judge said: "She couldn't have had a reading like that from the night before."
The barrister said the defendant had "a number of health problems" including "mental health". He said she is "still technically employed. She has been a teacher for most of her life".
The barrister said the defendant is "battling demons" and was "very sorry" for what happened. He said it was accepted it was an "extremely high reading".
Judge Magill noted the defendant had a driving with excess alcohol conviction from 2012.
Regarding the current case he said: "This was a very high reading and the court would be considering very serious penalties in respect of it."
He said a report showed the defendant had "serious health issues" and is "trying to get some help".
He told the defendant: "It was a very high reading but this is clearly not a case, because of your particular health circumstances, where the court is going to consider custody."
The defendant was banned from driving for two years and was fined £250. She will have then have to re-sit a test if she wishes to get back on the roads.