Teacher sped off at 90mph after PSNI spotted her driving Audi Q5 erratically on M1 near Portadown, Craigavon court hears
A 52-year-old school teacher, who was involved in a police chase after officers spotted her swerving and driving erratically on the M1, has been given a driving ban.
Tracey Purdy, from Banbridge Road, Lawrencetown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop for police.
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The court heard police were on the M1 eastbound on November 8 this year at around 6.35pm, when they spotted a silver Audi Q5 ‘swerving on the road and failing to maintain a central position in its lane’.
"In addition the driver was accelerating and braking aggressively,” a prosecutor told the court.
Officers signalled for the driver to stop but the car continued for another mile. “Police drove alongside for about a minute and witnessed the driver, the defendant, staring forward and refusing to acknowledge their presence,” he said.
Police moved in front of the Audi, signalling for it to pull over, but ‘it overtook the police vehicle and sped off at around 90mph before verring off at Junction 12 towards Craigavon’.
"Due to the defendant’s poor standard of driving, police activated blue lights and sirens and contacted another unit which assisted in stopping the vehicle outside Portadown,” said the Prosecutor.
The defendant appeared ‘unsteady on her feet’. She did an evidential breath test which was 77 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath. In NI the drink driving limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan pointed out there was no speeding charge.
Purdy’s solicitor Mr Philip Reid said his client has been a teacher since 1998 and is currently on sick leave.
Mr Reid said Purdy has marital problems and on that evening had an argument with her husband. “She was going through a very difficult time. She had a couple of drinks and her driving was poor,” said the solicitor adding his client said she hadn’t seen the police. “She was obviously in quite a state. When she did see them she pulled over.”
The solicitor said his client has had a mental health crisis and has had addiction issues in the past, adding “the record bears that out”.
Mr Reid said Purdy has been seeking help via counselling for her addiction and attending a non-residential rehab facility in Derry.
He added that she has told her employers. “It’s an employment she loves,” he said.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “The minimum I can disqualify you is for three years and that’s what I am going to do. You will also be subject to some issues with your regulatory body. The fact that you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity is something they will consider and your insight.”
She was also fined £200 for the driving with excess plus the £15 offender levy.
"Failing to stop. It’s pretty bad but a very early plea. I will reduce that down to £150,” said the district judge.
He allowed 16 weeks to pay the fines.
Regarding the course some people can take after a drink driving ban which can reduce it by 25 per cent, District Judge Ranaghan said: “It’s not a matter for me whether you will be allowed the course. I don't think you will, given the fact you had it back in 2024.”