9:36am Thursday 24th April 2008
SWINDON'S drunkest driver has been warned she could face jail for getting behind the wheel while five times over the limit.
Jane Sully, 28, of Torun Way, Haydon End, was so drunk when she crashed her Peugeot 206 on her way to her job at BP's gas depot on Tuesday morning that she had to use the car to help herself stand up.
Traffic officers said her breathalyser reading of 174 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 ml of breath was the highest they had ever seen. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Police officers who arrested her said it was the worst case of drink driving they had ever seen.
PC Barry Card said: "She was as drunk as I have ever seen anyone driving.
"It was by far the highest reading that I, or any of my colleagues who were here, have ever seen on that machine.
"Everyone at the station had a look at the reading. No-one had seen it as high as 174 before."
Sully pleaded guilty to drink driving at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Nicky Wootton, prosecuting, described the slow-motion crash on Tadpole Lane at about 9am on Tuesday morning.
"At the junction for the railway bridge the other driver noticed a blue Peugot driving unusually slowly," said Miss Wootton.
"It was driving very erratically, past the centre line many times then would slow without reason.
"After the railway bridge it almost stopped on two occasions, then as it passed a sharp left bend, the car slowly went across the road at about walking pace, went off the side of the kerb and headfirst into the ditch."
The witness phoned the police while another motorist helped Sully out of her car.
"The lady could hardly stand as the driver was helping her out. She had to lean on the car for support," said Miss Wootton.
Police officers arriving at the scene described Sully as "very distressed and crying".
Richard Williams, defending Sully, said: "This was an alarmingly high reading.
"On Monday evening she was alone at the house. Her partner was working and she began drinking.
"She's a little imprecise about how much although she gives the general indication she drank approximately three quarters of a bottle of vodka and half a bottle of wine. On Tuesday morning she was simply on her way to work. She said she felt okay to drive.
"She felt as if she had a bit of a hangover, but felt okay otherwise.
"She is a young lady who has been increasingly drinking alcohol to find solace in herself.
"Anyone who can blow that level in her breath would appear to have a serious medical problem.
"She really needs to do some soul searching now."
Chairwoman of the bench Joy Hobby adjourned sentencing Sully but warned her she could still face jail.
Sully was given an interim ban, forbidding her from driving any vehicle until sentencing.
"The magistrates who will sentence you have all options open to them, including custody," she said. "The probation service will prepare a report to address your obvious alcohol problem.
"In the meantime you are disqualified and must not drive any motorised vehicle at all, anywhere, including roads, tracks, public car parks or anywhere else."
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