Elen Kay Howitt, of Rumney Close in Connah’s Quay, was found to be more than three times the drink drive limit after initially failing to stop for officers
A nurse on her way home from work was found to be more than three times the drink drive limit after initially failing to stop for police.
Flintshire magistrates’ court at Mold heard that Elen Kay Howitt drank vodka after a particularly bad day at work before driving home.
The court heard the 51-year-old, of Rumney Close in Connah’s Quay, did not stop immediately for police who followed her on Deeside, claiming she did not have to stop.
Since her arrest on November 26, she has resigned from her post as a nurse at a care home and has come off the nursing register.
The court heard she was already seeking help and had only had two glasses of wine since, which was on New Year’s Eve.
Howitt admitted driving a Mazda on Kelsterton Road in Connah’s Quay with 282 miligrammes of alcohol in her blood, compared to the legal limit of 80.
At court today, she was told it was a huge reading where she had put herself and other road users at risk, and was banned from driving for two and a half years.
Magistrates placed her on a 12-month community order under which she must carry out 220 hours of unpaid work, with £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.
The court heard she had been making a 15-mile journey from her place of work at the time.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said that, at about 8pm, police received a report of a possible drink driver.
Officers followed Howitt along Kelsterton Road with their blue lights flashing.
When she failed to stop, police put on their siren and flashed their headlights but still she drove on.
The police car overtook her and stopped ahead of her.
She came to a halt and said she had not seen the police car until it overtook.
Asked why she had not stopped, she said she did not have to, but officers pointed out it was an offence not to do so.
She appeared nervous and argumentative but did not smell of alcohol, the court heard.
However, Howitt provided a positive roadside breath sample with a reading of 132 microgrammes.
At the police station, she did not provide a sufficient sample of breath, but it was accepted that she may have a medical reason.
A blood sample was taken which produced the result of 282 miligrammes.
An empty bottle of vodka was seized from the vehicle.
Defending solicitor Nick Cross said his client was a woman of previous good character who had worked in a care home for 24 years and was genuinely remorseful.
It was a very demanding and stressful job and she suffered from anxiety and depression and found it difficult to sleep at night, said Mr Cross.
She had been off work sick for two months, but went back to work where the stress built up again, he said.
The day before the offence, one of the patients passed away, there had been an argument with her partner, and she turned to drink to self-medicate.
Her intention had been to drink and sleep in the car but it was a serious error of judgement which she did regret.
“She does apologise profusely to the court,” he said.
“She has dedicated her life to caring for those who are ill.”
Her partner was very supportive, she realised she had issues which needed to be addressed, and she had been in contact with her GP and other agencies.
Probation officer Andrew Connah said she had had a drink problem for about six months before the incident.
She had been drinking half a bottle of vodka a day but, after an extremely bad day at work, it escalated on the day of the offence
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/drunk-flintshire-nurse-police-chase-12411680
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