Drink driver givena two-year ban

Rachel Gregory, 21, of Havelock Road, was arrested on October 9 after her Peugeot collided with two parked cars in Beaconsfield Road.

“Police were called out to the collision and there was a group of people standing round the Peugeot,” prosecutor Mark Kateley told Hastings Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

“Initially the defendant denied owning the vehicle but eventually identified herself as the registered keeper.

“It was clear she was drunk and the officers said she had some difficulty standing and talking.

“She was arrested and made several unsuccessful attempts to provide specimens of breath.”

Gregory pleaded guilty to the charge, and Ros Crook, defending, said: “Miss Gregory has been having quite a hard time. In May her mother collapsed and stopped breathing and my client had to bring her back to life.

“She was diagnosed with having a brain tumour and is on a waiting list to have it removed.

“It is Miss Gregory who looks after her – there are no other brothers and sisters and no other family in the area.

“There has been a lot of pressure on her and she admits she has been going out more than she would have done before.

“On this particular evening Miss Gregory had gone out to a party and had been drinking.

“She does not know why but she got into her car to drive a short way – she then came to her senses and got out of the car.

“She was unable to provide the breath sample and although she has told me she suffers from a cat allergy that causes her airways to tighten.

“She just wants to get this over with as quickly as possible.”

Gregory broke down in tears during the hearing, and Miss Crook asked that magistrates keep the mandatory driving ban to a minimum, as any disqualification was going to have an impact on getting her mother to her appointments in Haywards Heath.

Magistrates gave Gregory a 12-month community order, ordered her to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, and she was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

She was also ordered to take part in a drink drive course and to pay £85 costs.