Drink driver was nearly four times over the legal limit

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, May 10, how Nicola Sands Murray, 32, of Errington Road, Walton, Chesterfield, was reported to police after her Ford Focus had been seen colliding with a kerb.

Prosecuting solicitor Gillian Foxcroft said: “A report was received by the police from a member of the public that they had seen a silver-coloured Ford Focus driving in Chesterfield and it had hit a kerb.

“Police attended and the defendant gave a roadside test sample and the reading was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit.”

Nicola Sands Murray pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after recording 126microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Magistrates stated that they felt only a custodial sentence could be justified but they suspended the sentence due to the defendant’s earl guilty plea and previous good character.

Nicola Murray Sands was given a 12 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months after the incident on Valley Road, Chesterfield, April 24.

She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.