Drink driver from Craigavon didn’t feel intoxicated

Pamela Crossley (47), Westacres, Craigavon, admitted a number of offences when she appeared last Wednesday at the local magistrates’ court.

For driving with excess alcohol she was sentenced to three months in custody, suspended for two years, and banned for two years.

She was given a two month suspended sentence and banned for one year for not having insurance and fined £100, with a £15 offender’s levy, for not having a vehicle test certificate.

Fines of £75 were imposed for driving unaccompanied and not displaying ‘L’ plates.

The court heard that at 9.15pm on June 11 this year she was stopped while driving on the Brownlow Road, Craigavon.

She failed a breath test and an evidential test gave a reading of 108 - the legal limit is 35.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

Mr Gabriel Ingram, representing the defendant, said details of what had blighted her upbringing were contained in the report.

He added that she was benefiting greatly and making good progress engaging with the probation services.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Crossley had a number of previous convictions, some of which related to motoring. He added that she had too much to drink and the courts had to protect the public from people who drink and drive. The judge pointed out that, at the time of the offence, Crossley said she didn’t feel intoxicated yet her reading was 108.