A woman crashed a car while at double the alcohol limit. Sophie Aherne from Cardiff was arrested after losing control of her car near Llantwit Major rugby club.
Prosecutor Beth Tucker told Cardiff Magistrates' Court a local resident heard a "loud bang" at around 10.10pm on November 26 last year and saw what he believed to be a male behind the wheel of a car which had been crashed near the Boverton Road club. But when police arrived it was 20-year-old Aherne sitting in the driver's seat.
Ms Tucker said: "Police say keys were in the ignition and the defendant was intoxicated and uncompliant. She said she had been driving but would not give a name. On the way to custody she was very uncompliant with officers and is said to have spat five or more times in the back of the police van. This caused a bill of £106.09 to have the van cleaned."
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At the police station Aherne blew 70mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35mcg. Aherne, of Fairwater, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and criminal damage caused by the spitting.
Her solicitor Nathan Jones said he would not go into great detail because District Judge David Webster had already read a report from the probation service. He added that his client, who has no previous convictions, receives benefits and would be able to pay a financial penalty at a rate of £20 a month.
Judge Webster imposed 60 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, £106.09 in compensation for the South Wales Police cleaning bill, and a victim services surcharge of £114. He also banned Aherne from driving for 18 months.
Mr Jones said Aherne would like to take a drink-driving awareness course which would cut her ban by 18 weeks. "She is 20 years old," he told the judge. "While she made an immature decision on this occasion hopefully the course will assist her and prevent her doing so again."
Judge Webster agreed to offer the course, which is run by the IAM RoadSmart charity. You can read more of the latest court news here.
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