Drunk Derbyshire woman smashed into parked car while three-and-a-half times over the limit

Andrea Annable was involved in the collision on July 12 in Birchwood Lane, Somercotes, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, October 28.

Prosecuting, Sarah Haslam told the court: “There was an accident involving two vehicles - she had driven into a standing vehicle and then crashed into a wall.

“When police arrived at the scene she was found sitting in the passenger seat.”

When breathalysed, Annable blew 119mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mg.

The 42-year-old, of Broadway, Swanwick, admitted drink driving when she appeared before the court.

Annable had previous convictions for drink-drive and similar offences dating back to 2000 and 2014, the court heard.

Mitigating, Kirsty Sargent said: “She had gone to see her children who live with their father and there had been an argument when her husband had suggested that they separate, and she had decided to leave.

“She then spent time with her friends and was drinking alcohol with them and didn’t realise she was so far over the limit.

“She simply says that she was not in a good place - she has five young children who live with her husband but she sees them weekly and she says that her life could not get any worse than it is at the moment.”

Sentencing Annable to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: “I accept you have issues and there are five children to be considered in this, but the reality is that you are an alcoholic and you are a danger to the public and you have shown this on two previous occasions.

“And here you are now, six years later, three-and-a-half times over the limit and involved in an accident. If you had got home and been told your child had been killed by a drink-driver with two previous convictions, you would want that person to be jailed indefinitely.”

He also placed Annable on a 13-week curfew and banned her from driving for five years.

She must also pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

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