Lorise Gordon, 35, appeared before a Birmingham magistrates' court to request a reduction in her driving disqualification nearly two years after a drink-driving offence.
The incident occurred on 4 February 2024, when police were called after a witness reported a vehicle being driven dangerously and running red lights. Upon police arrival, they found Gordon attempting to drive to McDonald’s exhibiting signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and the smell of alcohol.
During police interaction, Gordon reportedly fell out of her car. A breath test revealed a reading of 43 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, above the UK legal limit of 35 micrograms.
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This was not Gordon’s first driving-related offence; her record includes previous convictions dating back to 2013, such as uninsured driving, driving while disqualified, and prior drink-driving offences.
Standing before the magistrates without legal representation, Gordon admitted to being over the limit on the day but expressed remorse for her actions. She explained she was on medication and experiencing personal difficulties at the time, claiming she did not realise she had consumed alcohol beyond the limit.
Gordon, a resident of Crewe, highlighted the challenges she faces in managing transportation for her children, including a 14-year-old attending school and younger children requiring nursery care. She emphasised her efforts to rectify past mistakes and obtain necessary support since the conviction.
The magistrates acknowledged the difficulties Gordon described but stated their powers were limited. The original 60-month driving ban was reduced to 48 months, with over two years already served. The disqualification will remain in effect until 2028, after which Gordon will need to pass another driving test to regain her licence.
The bench emphasised the seriousness of the offence and the potential risk posed to the public, expressing regret that they could not offer more leniency.