A DRINK-driving mum who crashed a car in Carlisle with her daughter and another child inside has been spared immediate prison.
The city’s crown court was told how the woman, aged in her 40s, ploughed her vehicle into a parked £25,000 car – left an insurance write-off – just after 10pm on August 3 last year having earlier attended the Dalston carnival.
One young passenger banged their head on a window and vomited, while the other suffered a suspected fractured rib in a Dalston Road collision which occurred after the woman’s car was seen swerving “quite badly” on the road.
She collided with a second car while driving away from the scene with sparks flying, and later told police who visited her Carlisle area home after following a trail of debris: “I’m not going to lie. I had a few wines.”
The child who sustained the rib injury later suffered nightmares and anxiety, experienced pain when she breathed, coughed or sneezed and, said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson: “She says the worst thing about it for her was the way (the woman) told her that everything would be fine and the way she was dismissive of the consequences of the crash.”
The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, admitted drink-driving having been almost twice the legal limit, no insurance and two child neglect charges. Having promised the other youngster’s mum she would take a taxi home from the carnival, she told police of her decision to drive: “I can’t believe I did it.”
She was sentenced at the crown court today (MON) by Recorder Eric Lamb. He heard the woman was “devastated”, had shown “real and genuine remorse”, had no previous convictions and had acted out of character.
A six-month jail term was suspended for 12 months, and the woman must complete a rehabilitation requirement. She received an 18-month driving ban and must pass an extended re-test.
“You made a deliberate decision, which decision imperilled two children,” said Recorder Lamb. “This is a gross example of driving with excess alcohol.”
