Thurlby woman, 83, banned for being drunk at wheel and driving erratically

An 83-year-old seen driving erratically before reversing into another car has admitted being over the legal limit.

Patricia Humphreys of Northorpe Road, in Thurlby, who had no previous convictions, was found to have 120 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood after the incident on that road on December 4.The legal limit is 80.

Boston Magistrates’ Court heard witnesses had seen her driving at 15mph in a 30mph zone and frequently applying the brakes without reason.

It was said she was hesitant at a roundabout, causing people to brake sharply, before she pulled on to a grass verge and reversed into another car.

Humphreys was unable to provide a breath sample at the scene partly because she suffers with COPD, defence solicitor Roger Lowther said, though she did give a blood sample later.

“She’s never been before the courts previously and I doubt she will be in court again,” he said. “She has little in the way of family support locally and will find it difficult without her license.”

District judge Daniel Church said: “You were one and a half times over the limit and by driving you put others at risk of a collision.

“You’re 83 with no previous convictions and I don’t under estimate how much the loss of good character, the visit by police and the court proceedings will have had a sobering effect on you.”

Humphreys was disqualified from driving for 12 months to be reduced by 12 weeks upon the successful completion of a drink drive awareness course.

She was also fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.