News

We commented on an article in the Manchester Evening News two weeks ago after a Levenshulme hospital worker appeared at Manchester City Magistrates Court having admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving without due care and attention, driving without a valid certificate of insurance and driving without a valid licence.

Marie Douglas crashed her car into a lamppost and a parked vehicle in torrential rain.  She had no insurance and had not even passed her driving test.  A breath test also revealed her to be nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit.  The legal limit in breath is 35ųg.  She also had her three children in the car with her at the time, aggravating matters.

Ms Douglas appeared back at Manchester City Magistrates Court on 17^th July 2012 for sentencing and has been spared a prison sentence.  She has been banned from driving for 28 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.  She also has to pay costs of £85.

Ms Douglas was blasted by District Judge Khalid Qureshi, who told her “What you did had the potential to have been disastrous.  I hope this has been a rude awakening about you behaving in this fashion.  It was ridiculous and stupid.”

Ms Douglas’ first Court appearance was adjourned for the preparation of an “all-options” probation report.  This was a sign that the Magistrates were giving serious consideration to imposing a custodial sentence and she is therefore very lucky to have received a community penalty, along with a lengthy driving ban, instead.