Derbyshire pensioner caught drunk behind the wheel after she woke up from Christmas Day nap and couldn't find her family

Sandra Ratcliffe was spotted by police crashing her Fiat Punto into a parked vehicle before carrying on with her journey.

Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Monday, January 11, that the 77-year-old had her son and daughter-in-law round for dinner on December 25, and was surprised to find them gone when she woke up after “drinking some wine”.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop told the court: “At about 5.30pm police received a report of a suspected drink driver. The officer said he saw the Fiat Punto hit a car which was parked behind him, causing minor damage.

“He spoke to her and told her that the roadside procedure would be carried out and he said immediately, ‘I will be over the limit’, and she said she had been drinking wine.”

Ratcliffe, of Church Street, Eyam, admitted drink driving when she appeared before the court.

When tested, she blew 51mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mg.

Speaking in her own defence, Ratcliffe said: “After dinner, where I had a glass of wine, I had fallen asleep, and when I woke up my son and daughter-in-law had disappeared. There had been an argument.

“Not thinking, I got in my car and drove to their address.

“I’ve been driving for 55 years, and this has upset me so much that I don’t think I will be driving again.”

Magistrates banned her for 12 months, fined her £170 and ordered her to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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