Drunk Mini Cooper driver, 55, avoids jail despite being FIVE TIMES over the limit after vodka binge

Angela Hinton (pictured), 55, was stopped in her Mini Cooper on the M58 in Merseyside after she was seen getting behind the wheel of her Mini after a vodka binge

A woman has avoided jail despite being five times over the drink-drive limit when police caught her swerving on the motorway at 40mph after a vodka binge.

Police took a breath-test from Angela Hinton, 55, and the machine showed the drunk driver was more than five times the alcohol limit as she drove her car along a motorway.

She was stopped in her Mini Cooper on the M58 near her home in Rainford, Merseyside after an eyewitness spotted her clambering behind the wheel of the vehicle following a vodka binge. 

Merseyside Police said the car was seen swerving on lane one of the carriageway at 40mph in the moments before Hinton was pulled over and breathalysed by police officers.

A breathalyser test taken on the side of the road showed she had 177 micrograms (μg) of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, well over the legal limit of 35μg per 100ml. 

Magistrates agreed to suspend her sentence and 84 hours of unpaid work after her solicitor said she was seeking help from substance abuse charity, Change Grow Life.

Her drinking problem was caused by problems at home, her solicitor Georgia Maudsley said.

She added that Hinton was at the hotel – the Park Hotel in Netherton – to get away from the family home and used alcohol to escape her problems.

This picture shows police holding up a breath-test machine (alcolmeter) which showed Hinton was more than five times the alcohol limit as she drove her car along a motorway. This test showed she had 177 micrograms (μg) of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, well above the  the legal limit being 35μg per 100ml.

At the time of the incident, officers were so shocked at the reading, they posted a picture of the alcometer on Twitter saying: ‘Thank you to the member of the public who contacted us about a possible drunk driver.

‘Vehicle stopped on the M58 and blew a staggering 177 at the roadside. The legal limit is 35. That driver will remain in custody until they are taken to court.’

At Sefton Magistrates Court Hinton pleaded guilty to drink driving on the basis of a lower reading at the police station which showed she had 157 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and was banned from driving for three years.

READ RELATED: Hope for heart attack patients as scientists use stem cells to repair damaged organ in pigs

Miss Shannen Carey, prosecuting, said that a report was made to police at 1.30pm on May 18 that a female driving a blue Mini Cooper had left the Park Hotel in Netherton having drunk a large amount of vodka.

‘The vehicle was sighted by the arresting officer PC Hutchison, and the vehicle was followed.’

She added: ‘It was seen swerving on lane one of three on M58 motorway driving at 40mph. Clearly it was dangerous to the public and herself.

‘She was stopped by the officer. She said she had not had a drink that day.

‘The officer detected a strong smell of intoxicants in the vehicle and asked the defendant to sit in the rear of the police vehicle where a roadside breath test was completed.

‘The reading was 177 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath at the roadside. She was taken into custody where the drink drive procedure was completed.

‘The lowest of the two readings was 157 micrograms in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35μg/100ml.

‘The defendant has one previous conviction for an unrelated offence.’

‘She held her hands up and complied with the police procedure but she has been struggling with her home life. She went to stay at the Park Hotel to get away from the issues at her family home and was using alcohol to escape her problems,’ said Hinton’s defence solicitor Georgia Maudsley

In mitigation defence solicitor Georgia Maudsley said: ‘Undoubtedly, this is a very serious offence and Ms Hinton does recognise that, bearing in mind the quantity of alcohol on her breath, the whereabouts on the road and the manner of driving.

‘She held her hands up and complied with the police procedure but she has been struggling with her home life. She went to stay at the Park Hotel to get away from the issues at her family home and was using alcohol to escape her problems.

‘She has started to engage with Change Grow Life and they are assisting her. Any period of imprisonment can be suspended. She has complied with police, the courts, and the probation service throughout this procedure.

‘She has no relevant previous convictions and has fully accepted responsibility. She also recognises the cause of her offending and as a result she has engaged with Change Grow Live.’

Hinton was also ordered to complete 84 hours of unpaid work and participating with 20 days of Rehabilitative Activities.

Chairman of the bench, Brian Wilson, said: ‘This is a very serious matter however, we are prepared to suspend this sentence because you have a lack of previous relevant convictions and we feel there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. You have already sought help.’