‘I thought I’d be ok as I was eating!’ Frampton teenager twice drink-drive limit when she crashed her Mercedes

A teenager was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit when she crashed the Mercedes she was driving, a court was told.

University student Scarlet Gray had drunk ‘two vodka and lemonades’ at a JD Wetherspoons pub before getting behind the wheel, an error which cost her her driving licence and £250.

The Frampton resident pleaded guilty to drink driving when she appeared before Boston magistrates on Monday (February 3).

“It was 12,14pm on December 12 when police were called to a road traffic collision. One vehicle was involved,” said prosecutor Tosin Abioye, describing the incident which occurred on Boston’s John Adams Way.

“The front and rear axle were possibly snapped going over the central reservation bump.

“Police identified Miss Gray as the driver and described her as unsteady on her feet.”

After failing a roadside breath test, 18-year-old Gray was taken to the police station where she gave a reading of 77 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

“In interview, the defendant explained she had drunk two vodka and lemonades at Wetherspoons,” Ms Abioye continued.

“She got in her vehicle to drive, didn’t turn properly and kerbed her vehicle driving at around 25-30mph.

“She had a passenger, a friend, with her.”

Gray, of Middlegate Road East, Frampton, told the court she ‘didn’t think it was a bad idea’ to get behind the wheel of her Mercedes A Class as she had been out for a meal.

Representing herself, the student said: “I thought I’d be ok as I was eating at the same time that I was drinking.

“I didn’t really take into consideration my size, and thought as I was eating it would soak it (the alcohol) up.

“I didn’t think it was a bad idea at the time, but obviously it was. I want to apologise, I’m lucky I didn’t hurt anyone.”

Magistrates banned Gray from driving for 19 months, which can be reduced by 19 weeks if she completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

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