Wigan mum, nearly five times over the drink-drive limit, crashes then tries to kid police she was the passenger

CCTV captured the moment 34-year-old Emma Gunning crashed her Mini One into Joeanne Neil's Fiat 500, then, after falling over twice in the road, tried in vain to swap seats with her passenger boyfriend.

When police arrived, she could be seen halfway into the vehicle through the passenger side window because she couldn't get the door open.

Wigan magistrates, who blasted her for putting her own and other lives at risk, also noted that this was the second time Gunning had been arrested for the same offence.

The hearing was told that on December 12 the 34-year-old of Bolton Road, Ashton, was at the wheel of the Mini on Lily Lane, Bamfurlong, with her partner on board looking for a missing pet when she lost control and it smashed into a number of other cars. Thankfully no serious injuries were sustained.

When police attended the scene of the accident, mother of one Gunning was trying to give the impression she hadn't been at the wheel, the court heard.

But CCTV from nearby homes showed otherwise and when she was breathalysed, she gave a reading of a massive 162 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

The chairman of the bench told her: “Having consumed an inordinate amount of alcohol, for reasons best known to yourself and your friend, you then decided to drive your vehicle on the public road, an action which put the public and yourself at risk of injury or death.

"There was a road traffic collision which caused significant damage to other vehicles.

“You then attempted to dissemble with the police officer and initially lied in an attempt to avoid the consequences of your actions.

“You also have a previous conviction for an identical offence. You have entered a guilty plea and have no other convictions but the level of alcohol in your body is higher than the highest reading contained within the sentencing guidelines.

“It is clear that a sentence of imprisonment is more than justified in these circumstances and we do not believe that it is appropriate to suspend this sentence.”

Gunning admitted to drink-driving and obstructing a police officer.

She was given an eight-week term behind bars and banned her from driving for five years. In order to be eligible to drive again, Gunning must take an extended test at the end of the disqualification period. There is also a £128 victim services surcharge to pay.

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