Drink-driver caught after Goyt Valley rave

Police were called to the Goyt Valley on the morning of April 14 after receiving reports of a road traffic accident, High Peak Magistrates’ Court heard.

A taxi driver had been called to pick up some customers just after 7.30am following a rave held in the Goyt Valley the previous night, prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald said.

As he was driving down a single track road he saw a Vauxhall Corsa travelling in the opposite direction and so pulled into a passing space but the Corsa didn’t slow down and collided with his wing mirror before scraping down the side of the car, Mrs Fitzgerald added.

Police arrived at the scene and spoke to the driver of the Corsa, Lucy Roberts, who they noticed had bloodshot eyes, and a dishevelled appearance.

A box of empty Stella bottles was also found in the car and there was a male in the back of the car who appeared drunk, the court heard.

Roberts failed a roadside breath test so was arrested and taken to Buxton police station.

She was found to have 143 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 80.

She had a previous conviction for drink driving from November 2010, the court heard.

Roberts, 21, of Tynedale Avenue, Crewe, admitted drink-driving.

James Riley, defending, said: “She went out of her way to assist the police and co-operated fully.

“She accepts culpability and responsibilty. It is one of those cases where she had been out the night before and drinking the night before.

“She hadn’t had that much sleep or eaten much food and was still over the limit the following morning.

“She was in an area she wasn’t familiar with. Being disorientated, she wanted to get home and set off on the single track road, having a minor collision with the taxi driver.

“The main difficulty for this defendant is this is not her first conviction of this type. She fully accepts that.

“The disqualification you must impose on her is a significant punishment for her.

“She is in full-time employment, working for Network Rail. She is training to be a wiring engineer.

“There are no excuses, she has to accept the penalty.

“She apologises through me to the police, the court and of course the taxi driver.”

Roberts was banned from driving for 36 months, and fined £200.

She must also pay £85 costs and a £20 surcharge.

She can reduce her ban if she successfully completes a drink-drivers rehabilitation course.