A woman missed her chance to say goodbye to a dying relative after she was caught drink driving while on her way to hospital. Rebecca Wilson had been drinking at her friend's house when she received a phone call from her mum to say that her uncle's condition has deteriorated.
She was urged to come to the hospital so that she could see him one last time, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports. However, shortly after setting off her Vauxhall Astra, the 36-year-old was pulled over by police and arrested when her roadside breath test came back positive.
Her uncle passed away while she was being held in police custody. At the time Wilson was arrested, there was a child present in the car, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard.
Prosecutor Angela Trafford said: "At around 11.50pm, officers conducted a stop on the basis that the Police National Computer showed this lady's vehicle's MOT had expired. The driver was Miss Wilson. She also had a teenage passenger. Miss Wilson was breathalysed and arrested.
"She became irate with the officers when they tried to take her to custody and initially refused to get into the car. Officers described trying to reassure her that they would make sure her passenger got home safely."
Wilson, of St Paul Street, Burslem, was taken to custody where she gave an alcohol reading of 59 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. She pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit. Wilson had no previous convictions.
Tac Hussain, mitigating, said: "She was at a friend's house and had no intention to drive. She was going to leave her car there. She received a phone call from her mother. Her uncle was in hospital and she was told she should go to the hospital to say goodbye.
"She took the decision to drive to the hospital. She felt okay to drive. Sadly, her uncle died at 5.15am when she was locked up at the Northern Area Custody Facility. She did not get the chance to say goodbye to him. His funeral takes place tomorrow."
Magistrates fined Wilson £120 and disqualified her from driving for 16 months, which will be reduced if she completes a drink drive rehabilitation course. She must also pay £183 in court costs and charges.
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