Gran caught drink driving was FIVE times over the limit and had a bottle of wine by the handbrake
Karen Eastwood was awaiting trial for another drink driving matter when she drove home drunk in rush hour traffic
A GRAN who was caught drink driving while five times over the limit had stashed a bottle of wine by the handbrake, a court heard.
Karen Eastwood, 50, was said to be “all over the road” as she drove home drunk in rush-hour traffic, the day after her birthday.
At the time, the hospital worker had been awaiting trial for another drink driving matter having been found asleep at the wheel of her Skoda five months earlier while more than three times over the limit.
But at Tameside Magistrates' Court, Eastwood, from Denton, Greater Manchester, sobbed with relief as she was given a suspended sentence.
The court heard how the first incident occurred on March 9 after Eastwood had attended Tameside Hospital for a meeting with another member of staff.
Prosecuting, Gareth Hughes, said: "The meeting finished and the member of staff became concerned about the defendant and believed she had been drinking and would drive home.
"She followed her and contacted one of the managers.
"The manager attended and the defendant was located in the vehicle, keys in the ignition, asleep.”
Tests showed Eastwood had 111 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. the legal limit is 35mg.
Eastwood was bailed to attend court and denied the charge but on August 28 was caught drink driving in her Citigo Montecarlo during the evening rush hour and was found slumped over the wheel of her car near her home.
Mr Hughes added: ''A member of the public in a vehicle signalled to police officers to stop.
''When they spoke to him they were told a female driving a red vehicle was all over the road and this person believed she might be drunk.
"They saw a vehicle that matched the description parked on the pavement.
"The defendant was on her own and there's an empty bottle of wine next to the handbrake.
"Her speech was slurred and eyes glazed.”
She was arrested and provided two samples of breath at the police station.
Eastwood admitted being drunk in charge of a vehicle and drink driving.
She was given a 16-week sentence suspended for a year and was ordered to attend a six-month alcohol treatment course.
She was banned from the roads for three years and was ordered to pay £300 in costs and surcharges.
Chair of the bench, Celia Metcalfe, said: "We are going to suspend the sentence due to your lack of previous convictions but you do need some help.
"We are not going to offer the drink driving rehabilitation course because of the risk you pose."
Stepping out of the dock, Eastwood said: "Thank you very much", before bursting into tears.
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