Alfreton woman tried to change places with male passenger after police stopped her for suspected drink driving

Niamh Curtis swerved in front of a police vehicle on July 25 at Slack Lane, Ripley, before pulling into a nearby car park, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday, October 26.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop told the court: “It was almost one in the morning and police saw her car swerve in front of them and into a car park.

“A male passenger got out and they saw her try and switch seats into the passenger seat. There was no roadside breath test taken but she was described as having slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet.”

The 20-year-old was then taken to the police station where she twice failed to produce enough breath to be breathalysed.

Curtis, of Beech Avenue, Alfreton, admitted failing to provide a specimen when she appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Ben Strelley said: “It’s accepted that she tried to switch seats and I don’t think she really understood the consequences of failing to provide a specimen.

“She did try to provide on two occasions but could not produce enough breath to be analysed.”

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe fined Curtis £350 and banned her from driving for 18 months.

Sentencing her, he said: “I hope you have learned a very valuable lesson from this, because driving while subject to any amount of alcohol is not a good idea. It’s quite clear to me that you would have been well over the limit.”

She must also pay £85 costs and a £38 victim surcharge.

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