A solicitor and a HR manager, both caught drink-driving at over double the limit at 6am have avoided bans after convincing a court they were merely trying to avoid a parking ticket.
Danielle Amodio (L) & Sophie Stevens (R)
Lawyer Danielle Amodio, 31, and recruitment specialist Sophie Stevens, 32, both had a go at moving the Mercedes from a residents-only parking bay.
They argued at Wimbledon Magistrates Court they had special reasons no to be subject to the usual automatic disqualification of at least twelve months.
Amodio, the £72,000 a-year legal counsel to technology provider Genius Sports and £50,000 a-year Stevens both pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in their breath in Dundonald Road, Wimbledon on May 19.
Amodio, who lives in a £675,000 apartment at nearby Tiffany Heights, Standen Road, Southfields had 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.
Stevens, of William Road, Wimbledon had 76 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath.
The court heard both women took to the wheel of the Mercedes with Stevens reversing a slightly longer distance as they attempted to move it from the residents bay, which came into force at 8.30am on a Tuesday morning.
Amodio had driven to her friend Stevens’ home and the pair had been drinking wine the night before.
However, a suspicious local called the police after witnessing them both moving the vehicle and officers stopped them as they strolled back to Stevens’ place.
Afterwards Stevens said: “We are not used to being in trouble, it is crazy. The whole thing was a bit odd.
“There was someone at the end of the road watching us try to get out of the space. They must have assumed we were drunk, I think they called the police.
“We were walking back when a police car pulled up. They asked: ‘Did you just drive?’ We said: ‘Yes, we were just parking’, thinking nothing of it. Then we were breathalysed.”
Instead of the usual disqualification the JP’s imposed 8 penalty points on Amodio’s driving licence and 9 penalty points on Stevens’ licence.
“Ms Amodio is a solicitor and she notified the Solicitors Regulation Authority two days later,” said Simon Harrison, defending.
“She is very resourceful and knows what she did was wrong.”
Amodio is now potentially subject to professional misconduct proceedings as she has a criminal conviction.
She was fined £1,392, with £250 costs and a £139 victim surcharge.
Stevens, who recently began claiming Universal Credit was fined £120, with £250 costs and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge.
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