Grandmother caught over drink drive limit as she drove to Huntingdon to help daughter-in-law in labour

A GRANDMOTHER who drove to Huntingdon to help her son when his wife went into labour was over the drink-drive limit.

Helen Lee, who has been banned from driving, was celebrating turning 52 and had drunk a bottle of wine at her home in Sumerling Way, Bluntisham, when she was called by her son who said his wife was going into labour. He asked if she could look after his son.

John Nooijen, prosecuting, told Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court that a police officer was on patrol on the A1123, on the edge of St Ives heading to Houghton, at 11.25pm on January 21 when she saw a Ford Fiesta driving at 20mph ahead of her.

Mr Nooijen said the officer watched the car move on to the other side of the carriageway, into the path of another vehicle but Lee moved back over to her side of the road in time to stop a head-on collision.

Lee was pulled over and admitted drinking three to four glasses of wine earlier in the evening.

She was taken to Huntingdon police station where she failed a breath test with a reading of 115 microgrammes of alcohol.

Anthea Wind, defending, said that Lee was disgusted with herself.

Lee was given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, pay a fine of £85 and £60 victim surcharge.

Huntingdon magistrates also disqualified Lee from driving for 28 months.