Emily Newsham had been drinking gin and wine with her friend before getting behind the wheel of her Audi A1
Emily Newsham pictured outside court(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
A woman who was caught behind the wheel of her Audi while four times over the drink-drive limit claimed she was ’emotional’ at the time of her arrest after speaking to her ex-boyfriend.
Emily Newsham had been drinking gin and wine with her friend following the split when she decided to drive the 20-mile trip back home to Lowton in Warrington. But a court heard how the 25-year-old became upset on the drive home when she spoke on a call with her ex-partner.
Her car was subsequently spotted swerving in the road and clipping a kerb. A member of the public reported her driving to the police.
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Crewe Magistrates’ Court heard how when officers caught up with Newsham, they found her car with a bust tyre. She was found sobbing in the driver’s seat, slurring her words and smelling of alcohol, the court was told.
At the roadside, Newsham blew 135 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath but failed to provide an evidential breath sample when she got to the police station. The legal limit is 35mg.
When quizzed later she admitted making a ‘mistake’ in choosing to drive home from her friend’s house in the Knutsford area – but claimed she was unable to complete the breath test because she had ‘panicked’ at the police station due her distressed state.
Nigel Jones, prosecuting, outlined details of the incident on Saturday, January 10. He said: “She was seen swerving around the road, and collided with a kerb.
“As a consequence the vehicle was identified by the officer. He found the defendant in the driver’s seat with the engine running and with a burst tyre.
“She had slurred speech, glazed eyes and there was a smell of intoxicants. She was also sobbing and mumbling to the officer.
“The officer perceived her to be in a drunken state. As a consequence the officer attempted to take a roadside breath test.
“That was complied with. As a consequence of that she was conveyed to the custody suite. At the custody suite, in spite of a number of attempts, a confirmatory sample was unable to be taken. This was a deliberate inability to provide and also a high level of impairment of driving.”
Emily Newsham was sentenced to a 12-month community order(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
A probation officer who compiled a background report about Newsham told the court: “On the day she had been at a friend’s house and consumed alcohol, wine and gin. She recognises she should have known better not to drive and she is embarrassed for her actions.
“It was a lapse of judgement affected by the alcohol and a lack of consequential thinking. She complied with the road side test however was unable to provide a further reading as she was anxious and breathless.
“It was not her intention to deliberately refuse. She is single and lives with her parents and is currently unemployed following a relationship breakdown and a decline in her mental health.”
In defence, Newsham’s solicitor said Stuart Flood said: “This is a young lady of 25 who has never been in trouble before. The break up with her relationship hit her hard.
“They had bought a house together. They had dogs. She came out of that with virtually nothing.
“She was with a friend drinking and on the way home, she was then in contact with her ex-partner. I think that upset her more than anything else.
“She made a number of attempts to give a breath sample. It was not a deliberate refusal but because of the emotions she was going through at the time.
“When taken to custody, it is a very emotional and very stressful period for those who have never experienced it.
“Clearly she made a very serious mistake which she is going to have to live with. She is supported by her mother, father whom she lives with her and grandmother.
“They are quite clearly a close knit family. She is an intelligent but very vulnerable young lady who has realised her mistake. She is going to learn from this – no doubt about it.”
Newsham, of Fieldfare Close, Lowton, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
She was also made to pay £199 in costs and surcharge. Newsham was banned from driving for 30 months.
