Drink-Driver Blew Nearly Five Times The Limit

A drink-driver, who collided with another car and later blew an “off the chart” breath-test nearly five times over the limit, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Divorced mother-of-two Marion Nye, 48, a Marks & Spencer customer services employee, was so drunk her reading exceeded the official sentencing guidelines.

However, in an unusual step, a District Judge decided to sentence her on the basis of the lower roadside breath-test she gave to police officers an hour and a half earlier.

Former library assistant Nye, of Heathfield Road, Keston pleaded guilty to driving her green Fiat 500 with excess alcohol in her breath in Pickhurst Lane, West Wickham on July 17.

The police and Crown Prosecution Service charged her on the basis of the 167 microgrammes reading recorded by the Intoximeter at Bromley Police Station.

However, District Judge Sushil Kumar accepted the lower 127 roadside reading Nye gave police.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland told Bromley Magistrates Court the roadside test was “not evidential.”

Police hand-held roadside test kits are not subject to the same regular calibration as the Intoximeter machines, which  are regularly checked and tested for accuracy.

The sentencing council’s recommendations only go up to readings of 150 microgrammes and suggest drink-drivers in that bracket can receive up to twenty-six weeks’ imprisonment.

“The breath-reading of 167 an hour-and-a-half after you ceased driving was so high that it was not even something the sentencing council guidelines even address,” District Judge Kumar told Nye.

“It is literally off the chart and the starting point for that in normal circumstances would be four months’ imprisonment.

“I am not going to sentence you to immediate imprisonment so you will be free to go today, but there were aggravating factors.

“There was a collision, you knew that you were intoxicated, there were people in the vicinity and the police officers spoke to bystanders who saw the collision take place.

“When the police attended you drove off for a short distance and, putting it bluntly, continuing to drive in that state you could have killed someone, killed yourself or an innocent bystander.

“I will sentence you on the basis of your roadside reading. You have pleaded guilty and are of previous good character and you have not been in trouble before or been before the courts in your forty-eight years.

“At the time of the offending there were a number of factors weighing heavily on you. Your divorce, the matters you suffered within the marriage, requiring you to seek assistance from outside charities.

“Your menopause and a medical diagnosis that had returned.

“I have no doubt it is something you will regret for the rest of your life. Your father was killed in a road traffic accident so you understand how serious this was.”

Nye received twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and disqualified from driving for forty months.

She must also complete 80 hours community service work and obey a four-week non-electronically tagged nighttime curfew between 9pm and 6am, except on one day a week she works late.

Nye must also pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

It was approximately 8.00pm when police officers saw two vehicles had collided at a roundabout, with several young women standing around.

“The second vehicle was a silver Golf and and they found Ms Nye, who was alone, in the driver’s seat of her Fiat,” explained Ms Gatland.

“The witnesses told the police the Fiat had crashed into the Golf while travelling on the wrong side of the road and there was damage to Ms Nye’s front bumper.

“The police officers thought the defendant was intoxicated and they wanted to speak to her and she drove off for around thirty metres.

“One officer gave chase on foot and she came to a stop as the officer drew level with her open window and the officer removed the key from the ignition.

“The aggravating features here are the fact there was a collision and the level of alcohol is literally off the scale when it comes to sentencing.”

Nye’s lawyer Sarah O’Leary told the court: “She has care responsibilities, she has two daughters aged thirteen and sixteen years-old and shares care with her ex-husband.

“As part of the divorce he kept the house and she is in a flat. She was previously working in a school and is now with Marks & Spencer’s customer services.

“She did end up spending two days at the police station and that clearly had a large impact on her.

“She is very distressed and embarrassed. The experience has scared her and she has not drank alcohol since.

“She knows custody is a very real prospect and is scared not just for herself, but her daughters and her mother to whom she also provides support.

“Her mental health is fragile due to the emotional abuse within the marriage and she has been in contact with her doctor as well.

“Custody could see her lose her job, her flat and impact the wider family.”

District Judge Kumar told Nye he was impressed by her efforts to engage with local alcohol services since her arrest.

“You have not been drinking since this and according to the pre-sentence report you are not a risk of causing serious harm to others,” he told her.

“An immediate custodial sentence would result in a serious impact on others, your daughters, who are of relatively young ages.

“You already face and suffer your loss of good character and carry the shame the loss of your good character brings.”

Estate Agent Crashed Into Bus Stop While Over Twice Drinks Limit

Ogden leaving Bromley Magistrates' Court

A drink-driving estate agent crashed her Mercedes into a bus stop while over double the limit before trying to flee the police on foot, a court heard.

Kirsty Ogden, 30, consumed four drinks at a works leaving party and was told on Monday she was fortunate nobody had been injured or killed.

“You were very lucky there was no-one standing in the queue at that bus stop and God forbid, had anyone been injured or even killed then you could have gone to prison for many years,” magistrate Timothy Nathan told her.

Ogden, of Vallance House, Callis Close, Woolwich pleaded guilty to driving the white Mercedes with excess alcohol in her breath in Charlton Park Road on July 15.

She had 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

She will lose her job at “one of the most profitable branches in the country,” after being banned from driving for twenty-two months; fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Dwain Coward told Bromley Magistrates’ Court: “Police received a call from an informant that a car had crashed into a bus stop and the female driver had exited and was walking away.

“The witness said the female was on a mobile phone saying: ‘I need your help,’ to whoever she was talking to.

“The police officers searched the area on foot and saw this defendant walking a short distance away.

“When she saw the police officers she began to run away and was chased and arrested and admitted she had been driving the vehicle and crashed it.”

Ogden’s lawyer Michael Gallagher told the court: “She says she had been drinking at a leaving do in Blackheath for a member of staff in her office.

“She had three or four drinks and felt fine to drive even though she had not eaten all day and decided the drive the short distance and misjudged and clipped the kerb and collided with the bus stop.

“She says she was pacing back and forth while on the phone and was walking around in circles.

“The police officers say she was crying, upset, frightened, disorientated and was asking for help.

“She does not believe she was running away from the police, but returning to the scene and accepts she had four drinks and was the driver.

“After an abusive relationship she came to London five years ago with no family support and was working in the hospitality industry until it was destroyed by Covid.

“After that career she began working as an estate agent and has been in her current role for three years, working as an estate agent on commission,” added the lawyer.

“The commission is quite low, equivalent to the minimum wage, but she has been quite successful  and was promoted to property consultant.

“She had taken out a lease agreement on the car, was working hard and felt she was doing well in her career.

“There was minor superficial damage to her Mercedes, but it would not start up and now she does not have enough money to repair it.

“Her employer has told her if she does not have a car she cannot work. She is unable to take people to viewings and travel to properties for what is one of the most profitable branches in the country.

“This is out of character. She has misjudged this and is going to pay for it. 

“She wants to be an estate agent and I ask you to go outside the guidelines of an approximate seventeen-month disqualification due to her remorse and co-operation.” 

Magistrate Mr Nathan disagreed. “We don’t share Mr Gallagher’s view. The police officers say, quite clearly, Ms Ogden left the scene and was running away and we regard that as an aggravating factor.

“You could have been charged separately for leaving the scene,” the magistrate told her. “We know you will lose your job and we are sorry about that.”

Lone Female Passenger Molested On Train To London Bridge

Police are hunting this suspected sex pest after a woman was molested onboard a train.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image and are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying him.

The victim was travelling alone on a Lewisham to London Bridge train on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 22.

At just after 2.00pm a man sat next to her and tried to start a conversation.

He then leant over and began touching her inappropriately.

The victim got up to leave, but the man tried to block her from doing so with his legs. 

She then managed to push past him and get off the train at London Bridge station.

Officers believe the man in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation.

BTP are treating the complaint as a sexual assault.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 255 of 22/06/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

£1.7m VAT Fraud: Farmer In Court

A Horsham farmer pleaded guilty last Wednesday to fraudulently evading VAT.

Gayne Cooper, 61, who has two company directorships, appeared on bail at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecution say £1.7m in VAT was fraudulently evaded.

He says the VAT figure is nearer £1.5m.

Cooper, of Stonehouse Farm, Plummers Plain was sent to Croydon Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

He pleaded guilty to one count of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT between April 1, 2013 and December 10, 2019.

“The defendant has pleaded guilty to a serious offence,” announced District Judge Devinder Sandhu. 

“It is a serious matter,” she told Cooper. “You have indicated a guilty plea to this court, which does not have sufficient sentencing powers to deal with you.”

Magistrates courts are limited to maximum sentencing powers of twelve months imprisonment.

Drunken Tailor: Italian Design Expert Sentenced For Mayfair Assault

Cut Up Rough: Benettello

A master tailor, who has worked with the world’s leading designer brands, has been sentenced for repeatedly bashing his ex-girlfriend’s head on the pavement outside a luxury five-star Mayfair hotel.

Richard Benettello, 41, was seen on top of 37 year-old Solankhe Tchikaya, 37, holding her by the hair and banging her head before being dragged away by the hotel’s security staff. 

“It was a serious offence and we have been told there were no injuries, but it was a very nasty attack,” magistrate Dr. Lynne Gailey told him.

Benettello, who has worked with Giorgio Armani; Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry claims they were both drunk after eating and drinking at a landmark Peruvian restaurant and he was guilty of nothing more than “excessive self-defence.”

He pleaded guilty to assaulting the graduate marketing and communications specialist outside The Athenaeum, Piccadilly on May 27, last year.

Benettello, of Fulham Road, West Brompton was placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day recommended activity requirement, plus attendance at a ‘building better relationships’ course.

He must also pay £775 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

The magistrates scrapped a £100 compensation award to Ms Tchikaya, of Munster Road, Fulham because she did not support the prosecution and they had no details for her.

Benettello says they once dated, but were simply dining as “friends” at the nearby COYA Mayfair restaurant, which they left at half past midnight.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland told Westminster Magistrates’ Court Benettello had initially fought the charge and only pleaded guilty on the day of his trial, for which Ms Tchikaya was a defence witness. 

“Police were called to a report of a man hitting a woman in Piccadilly. The complainant was this defendant’s partner and witnesses heard screaming,” she said.

COYA Mayfair manager Filomena Clarizio later told police: “I heard a scream and thought there was a fight by the hotel.

“I noticed a couple and the male was on top. He had hold of her and was smashing her head on the ground.

Kept Schtum: Tchikaya

“Security pulled the male off the female, but he kept returning. The female went into the hotel and then I saw the male with the officers with blood on his hands.”

The blood was not Ms Tchikaya’s and she had no injuries, the court heard.

Ms Tchikaya told the witnesses: “He gets like that when he is upset,” and Benettello said: “I did nothing.” 

“This is clearly a serious and nasty assault that took place,” added the prosecutor. “Serious enough for members of the public to voice their concerns and call the police.”

The court heard Benettello received twenty-six weeks imprisonment last December for boarding an airplane while drunk and assaulting three cabin crew.

“There is a background of police involvement with this couple and there were a number of incidents in 2019 that did not result in a charge,” said Ms Gatland.

“On one occasion the defendant was threatening to harm the complainant, screaming at the top of his voice and kicking dustbins in the street.

“In 2018 there was an argument in the street and another incident when he attended her address, having been discharged from hospital.

“The victim was not willing to support any prosecution, including this one.”

Benettello’s lawyer Milad Shojaei said: “She was a defence witness and did not support the prosecution at the time. They were not in a relationship at the time of the incident and were just friends.

“He is a fashion stylist and master tailor and had been working in Saudi Arabia and came to the UK on a visit when he was arrested for this and has been in limbo for the last fourteen months.

“His employer is keeping his job open, but he has no financial support or any means of earning for the last fourteen months and has burned through his savings and borrowed from family and friends and can no longer pay his rent.

“He has had some very dark times and has been feeling suicidal during the last fourteen months.

“Mr Benettello has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, twice a day, for the last year to address his own offending behaviour and has been sober for the last thirteen months.

“He accepts there was excessive self-defence when they were intoxicated and they had a stumble.

“He accepts he behaved excessively. The paramedics confirm there were no injuries to her head and the blood was the defendant’s.”

Law Graduate Appears At Old Bailey Charged With Murdering Fiancé

Sam Mayo & Blaze Wallace

A law graduate, with ambitions to be a human rights lawyer, appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday charged with murdering her fiancé, who was stabbed to death.

Blaze Wallace, 27, of Mullins Path, Mortlake was not asked to enter a plea and was remanded in custody to HMP Bronzefield until October 11 by Judge Alexia Durran.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and wiping away tears with a white handkerchief, a visibly distressed Wallace confirmed her age and date of birth at the start of the twenty-minute hearing.

She graduated from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham with a law degree in 2017 and at the time of her arrest was studying her Masters in human Rights & Legal Practice at the University of Roehampton.

Wallace is charged with the murder of Samuel Mayo, 34, who she became engaged to last month, in Lower Richmond Road on Monday, July 18.

A provisional trial date was fixed for June 12, next year.

Today, prosecutor Benjamin Holt confirmed the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the left side of Mr Mayo’s chest, inflicted with a knife.

He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics at 10.00pm and rushed to Kingston Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.10pm.

Police attended the one-bedroom flat Wallace had shared with her fiancé for the previous six months and she was arrested on suspicion of his murder at 2.25am in the early hours of July 19.

One female security officer accompanied Wallace in the secure dock and after the hearing she mouthed words to her family in the public gallery above and shouted: “Love you all,” as she was taken back down to the cells.

Racially Abusive HMO Resident Ordered To Quit Booze

A drunken HMO resident, who repeatedly called her neighbour a “black c***” and shoved her against a hallway wall during an ants infestation row, has been ordered to quit drinking.

Lisa Boni, 51, who now lives and works at the White Horse pub, High Street, Beckenham was recorded assaulting and racially abusing the woman.

At Bromley Magistrates Court she pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault of Jazmin Beaton at Brandon House, Beckenham Hill Road on August 3, last year.

However, Boni claims she was victimised by her neighbour and was on the receiving end of racist and homophobic abuse that was not caught on camera.

She was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes a monitored compulsory Alcohol Abstinence Requirement of sixty days.

Boni must also comply with an Exclusion Requirement, prohibiting her from entering Brandon House for the next six months.

She must also engage with a Probation Service-ordered Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of up to a maximum of fifteen days.

Prosecutor Maureen Edwards told the court Boni returned to the Home of Multiple Occupation at 11pm and according to the victim, appeared drunk.

Earlier that day Ms Beaton had taken photos of the ants infestation around the front door and shared them on the HMO’s WhatsApp social media group.

There was a polite discussion about how to rid the property of the ants and when Boni returned home that evening she asked Ms Beaton for a mop and bucket.

“She became quite rude and aggressive and was heard to say ‘black c***’ on many occasions,” explained the prosecutor.

“Boni was recorded saying: ‘You are the most insulting, disrespectful black c*** I have met in my life.’

“The words ‘black c***’ are used about three times and she also said: ‘I pay rent. You don’t, you black c***.’

“This occurred in the hallway of the communal area and the defendant used her hands to push the complainant in the chest against the wall.

“The complainant felt fear and went back to her room and Boni followed, kicking and banging on the door while shouting a barrage of abuse,” added Ms Edwards.

“She shouted: ‘If you have a backbone come out here and I will knock you out. Go back to where you come from, go back to Peck-nam.’

“Boni specifically said ‘Peck-nam’ instead of ‘Peckham’, comparing the area to Vietnam, due to its reputation for violence and black gang culture.”

When she was questioned by police Boni said Ms Beaton had previously subjected her to racial and homophobic abuse outside and had assaulted her.

She denied using the term ‘Peck-ham’ and insisted she said ‘Peckham’ normally.

The court heard Ms Beaton’s attitude towards Boni changed when she discovered she was gay.

Boni says her former neighbour called her a “white c***”; “a fanny licker” and told her she “needs a black man.”

She maintains she only pushed Ms Beaton because she was “in her face” and cannot believe her choice of words during the row.

Boni has not slept at the HMO since the incident.

The court also ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge. 

Law Graduate Charged With Murdering Fiance

Samuel Mayo & Blaze Wallace

A law graduate and budding human rights lawyer appeared in court yesterday, charged with murdering her fiancé, who was stabbed to death.

Blaze Wallace, 27, of Mullins Path, Mortlake appeared in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

She graduated from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham with a law degree in 2017 and at the time of her arrest was studying her Masters in human Rights & Legal Practice at the University of Roehampton.

Wallace is charged with the murder of Samuel Mayo, 34, in Lower Richmond Road on Monday, July 18.

They became engaged in June.

He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics at 10.00pm and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.30pm.

Police immediately cordoned off part of the busy road and the entirety of Mortlake Green when launching their investigation.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and accompanied by two custody officers Wallace only spoke from the secure dock to give her name, date of birth and address.

She asked to remain seated during the short hearing and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, July 26.

Prosecutor Jordan Pratt did not address the court, nor did Wallace’s defence representative.

Magistrate Sara Brown told her: “All we can do is remand you in custody to the Old Bailey to next Tuesday. If you are wondering why you are here it is because all cases start in the magistrates court.

“You will now go downstairs with the custody officers.”

Before leaving the dock Wallace blew a kiss to three supporters in the public gallery, two of whom were visibly emotional and distressed.

Private Schoolteacher Caught Spying On Female Shower Room

A private school teacher’s career is in ruins after he was caught using his mobile phone to secretly spy on a female colleague in the women’s-only shower room, a court heard.

Computer Science teacher Christopher Arnold, 37, was also an assistant head of 5th Year at £22,000 a year Hampton Boys School, in south-west London.

The 500 year-old school’s well-known alumni include Queen guitarist Brian May; former Home Secretary Kenneth Baker and Olympic gold medal rower Jonny Searle.

Arnold, of Hazelwood House, Dyas Road, Sunbury-on-Thames is now receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and living with him mum, while on a “relationship Break” from his partner, also a teacher at the same school.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to observing the female teacher doing a private act, for the purpose of sexual gratification on March 23.

Arnold must now sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and complete 200 hours community service and pay £85 costs and a 395 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered him to attend thirty sessions of the Horizon sex offenders’ programme and up to thirty days of a Probation Service-ordered recommended activity requirement.

“This incident left me very shaken and shocked,” said the teacher in her victim impact statement. “It is a horrible thing to have happened and to have it carried out by a colleague makes it even more intruding.”

Prosecutor Adam Cooper told the court: “This takes place at Hampton Boys School before the school day started.

“There is a small bathroom area that connects to the gym, leading to a female shower room for staff.

“The complainant was getting changed in the shower room at 8.10am and was sitting on a bench facing the door, which has three clear window slots.

“She could see a black smart phone held against the window and shouted out as she was partly-dressed and ran out to the corridor, thinking it was a student, but found this defendant.”

Arnold did not deny he was responsible and when questioned by police the same day, made a full admission.

No recording of his fellow-teacher was found on the phone and police checked his other devices, including computers and found no similar material.

Arnold’s lawyer Sunvir Kaur told the court: “He has expressed deep remorse from the outset and is seeking and trying to get to the bottom for the reason for the offence.

“He has sought help himself through his own expense and his genuine remorse was shown soon afterwards with a witness noting he was ‘down’ and ‘not his usual cheerful self.’

“This was because Mr Arnold was at a point of crisis when he committed the act and felt a sense of shame and had come to his senses as to what he had done.

“He made an immediate admission to the woman and said: ‘That was me,’ and was arrested that day and made a full ad mission to the police.

“Mr Arnold says he was under a lot of stress. It had been a difficult term at the school, where he had been for ten years and he used pornography to relieve his symptoms as a copying strategy.

“He also had a new pastoral role at the school, which placed additional stress on him.

“That led to this momentary spur of the moment act.”

Arnold’s partner and his mother supported him in court and Ms Kaur added: “His main source of income has now been lost and he is living with his mum while on a relationship break until the conclusion of this case.

“He showed exemplary character up to that morning, but now there will also be a hearing before the Teaching Regulation Agency and he is likely to be barred.”

Magistrate Timothy Keay told Arnold: “Custody might be in the sentencing range, but we think the appropriate sentence is a Community Order.

“The offence is so serious a custodial sentence could have been imposed.”

"I Got No Space": Sex Pest Jailed For Pressing Groin Into Woman

A tube train sex pest has been jailed for pressing his groin into the rear of a pregnant passenger – claiming he had nowhere else to stand in the carriage when challenged.

Zane Donovan, 25, also received a court ban from attempting to chat in public with any woman he does not know once he is released.

When confronted on the Victoria Line train he protested: “How do you want me to stand? I Got no space.”

Donovan, of White Gardens, Dagenham pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman between Green Park and Victoria stations on Friday, March 25.

At Inner London Crown Court he received 41 weeks imprisonment and must sign the six offenders register for the next ten years.

Donovan was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him attempting to engage females he does not know in conversation when in public – including public transport.

The victim boarded the train at Green Park at 6.30pm and immediately felt Donovan pressing his groin against her from behind for around twenty seconds.

After being confronted he departed the train at Victoria station and after CCTV enquiries was arrested several days later.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Brittany Armstrong said: “This incident was particularly alarming and distressing for the victim, and I’m pleased to see Donovan behind bars for such inappropriate behaviour.

“Some people may not consider pressing a sexual offence, or serious enough to report especially in a crowded environment, however in the eyes of the law this is sexual assault and offenders will be caught and punished accordingly.

“If you experience or witness this behaviour on the network, we urge you to alert an officer or report it by texting us on 61016. We will always take you seriously.”

999 Operator Abused By Drunk Caller

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

An offensive 999 caller verbally insulted the emergency operator with a volley of foul-mouthed abuse, a court heard.

Lisa Sutch, 52, claims she was drunk when she made the call and insists much of the abuse was aimed at herself for failing to stay off alcohol.

She was recorded saying: “Give me your f***ing name, you're f***ing dead. F***ing die.

“Shut up you fat slag,” was also said during the call, along with “black c***.”

Jobless Sutch, of Stuart House, Stuart Road, Richmond-upon-Thames pleaded guilty one count of offensive communication on June 27.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Garcia told Wimbledon Magistrates' Court the female operator took a 999 call from Sutch, who was at her home address.

“At one point during the call she started becoming rude and aggressive.”

The court was then quoted Sutch's words, which the 999 operator described as leaving her “extremely shocked and distressed.”

The operator confirmed she could hear nobody else on the end of the line who Sutch could have been directing her abuse towards.

The defendant was arrested and questioned by the police.

“She had no recollection of the telephone call and said she was drunk at the time and the 999 operator was offensive to her,” said Ms Garcia.

Sutch's lawyer Jenny Winter told the court her client was sleep-deprived due to a noisy neighbour and after quitting alcohol began drinking again when “under pressure.”

“She has a mirror in her hallway to remind herself how awful she looks in drink and was abusing herself.

“When she said: 'black c***' she was referring to an Asian friend she had issues with.

“A lot of this was drunken babbling while depressed and sleep deprived.”

Sutch, who currently lives on Employment Support Allowance has a previous conviction for harassment.

She is also os breach of a twelve-month conditional discharge for an offence of criminal damage.

Bailing Sutch until August 18 for a pre-sentence report magistrate Lindsey Stuart told her: “There is a previous conviction for harassment and there is a seriousness to this.

“What you did was totally unacceptable, but there may be mitigation by virtue of your mental health.” 

'Juiced' Mobile Hairdresser Nearly Four Times Limit

A mobile hair stylist blamed her
special juice-only diet for being nearly four times the drink-drive limit when she crashed into another car after leaving a pub, a court heard.

Gaynor Godwin, 41, had to hold onto one of the arresting police officers’ to steady herself as she staggered out of her vehicle, Bromley Magistrates’ Court was told.

“She had for some weeks before been blending fruit and vegetables and had not been eating properly,” said Nick Ferrari, defending. “Drinking alcohol on such a limited diet would knock anyone for six.”

The single mum, of Colebrook Rise, Shortlands, Bromley pleaded guilty to driving her white BMW estate, with excess alcohol in her breath, on May 31 in nearby Glassmill Lane.

She had 130 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

Godwin told police she only had two wine spritzer’s at a local Wetherspoons during after-work drinks.

She claimed the collision would probably have occurred even if she was sober, blaming the other vehicle for speeding into her path and suddenly stopping in front of her.

“Your conduct on this day was disgraceful,” magistrate Alan Austin told Godwin. “You were very drunk  and you put other people’s lives in danger.

“You are an intelligent woman and you know the dangers of drink-driving. With all your responsibilities you should not be doing this.”

Godwin was disqualified from driving for 30 months and must complete 150 hours community service. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Denise Clewes told the court police were called just before 11.00pm to a traffic accident on a bend.

“They saw two vehicles, one of which was a white BMW with damage to the front bumper and they saw Ms Godwin get back in the car and was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“She declined assistance and told the officers she was not injured, but as she got out she reaches out to grab the officer’s arm to steady herself.”

The officers noted Godwin was “incomprehensible to understand” 

Godwin’s two female passengers were uninjured and she was arrested after failing a roadside breath-test.

The other driver was injured and taken to hospital after being removed from their Toyota.

“At Bromley Police Station the custody Sergeant noted she was unsteady on her feet and abusive to the arresting officers and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her.

“When questioned she said she was driving downhill and did not brake in time and collided with the other car.

“She said: ‘We had a few in the pub with dinner, we shared a bottle and a half of wine between three of us and I felt okay to drive.’

“It is a very high reading and a high-level of impairment,” added Ms Clewes, revealing Godwin was also convicted of drink-driving in Marbella, Spain in 2010.

“It was a minor accident, a prang of the vehicle,” said Mr Ferrari. “There will be hefty consequences and she will not be able to continue as a mobile hairdresser by driving to customers’ homes to cut their hair.

“She is a dedicated parent and realises this sort of behaviour could deprive her eleven year-old son of her if this offence was met with a sentence of imprisonment.”