A Milford Haven motorist has been banned from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle for 17 months after admitting a drink drive charge in court.
Twenty-four-year-old Katie Wainwright, of Cromwell Road, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to driving her Ford Fiesta whilst over the limit.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the incident occurred on July 6, in Pembroke Dock, when police responded to a call from the defendant at 3.30 am, as she was concerned about the welfare of a friend.
“When officers arrived at the address they were given, they saw Miss Wainwright pull out in her vehicle at speed.
“She immediately told them that she’d be over the limit as she’d drunk four cans,” said Mr. Pritchard-Jones.
A reading at the police station showed that the defendant had 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that his client had not intended to drive that evening.
“She was with friends watching a television show, when she received a text from a friend to say they were suicidal, so she drove to his home to check on him,” he explained.
When Miss Wainwright couldn’t get an answer at her friend’s address, she ’phoned Withybush Hospital the court heard and was told that a trauma victim had been admitted, so she put two and two together and decided to head over there.
“Police came when she was heading on her way out. It’s been a complete disaster for her, she is a student training to be a mental health nurse, but has problems of her own and is receiving treatment at the hospital in Carmarthen, but at the moment is on a gap year.
“All of this has come about because of her good nature and heart.
“She’s never been in trouble before. It was unusual circumstances and an unusual way for the police to come in contact with her,” added Mr. Kelleher.
Magistrates disqualified Miss Wainwright from driving for 17 months and fined her £100 for the offence.
She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.