Woman banned from driving after being seen slumped at the steering wheel of her car

Stephanie Draper, 31, of Borsdane Avenue in Hindley, appeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to being over the legal limit.

Ann Deakin, prosecuting, told the court, that police were alerted by CCTV which showed Draper temporarily slumped at the wheel of her Audi.

She said: “On January 29, she had been driving her motor vehicle on Wallgate in Wigan.

“Draper was pulled over by police on Pool Street, as local CCTV showed her temporarily slumped at the steering wheel.

“She had also been driving with no lights.”

When Draper was asked if she had drunk, she admitted to drinking one and a half pints.

Draper then failed a breath test - recording a reading of 76 micogrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is just 35.

Melissa Fagan, defending, said, Draper had been out socialising with friends.

She said: “She decided early doors not to consume alcohol.The first three pubs she visited she drank soft drinks and coke. She accepts that she changed her mind and consumed alcohol after that .

“Draper also concedes that she had no lights on, but that she had a new car and the lights don’t come on automatically.”

Ms Fagan went on to tell the court how a driving ban would impact on Draper’s employment.

She said: “She won’t lose her employment as a result of this butpart of her role sees her have to travel to venues across the NHS.

“She won’t always be able to use public transport with the unsociable hours she works, so she won’t be able to do certain duties. So this will have an impact on her employment. So I would ask for a financial penalty and to keep a driving ban down to a minimum.”

But justices handed Draper a 20-month ban from driving.

She was also ordered to pay a fine of £161, victim surcharge of £32 and prosecution costs of £85.