A 64-year-old woman was found to be nearly twice over the legal alcohol limit when she collided with two parked vehicles in Dudley.
Police were informed that Bajinder Kaur appeared to be attempting to drive away prior to their arrival at the scene on Stourbridge Road on 27 July. Officers, responding to reports from members of the public, identified Kaur, who was believed to be under the influence, driving a Vauxhall Astra matching the description given.
Breath tests revealed Kaur had 64 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
At Dudley Magistrates' Court on 10 September, Kaur pleaded guilty to driving while above the prescribed alcohol limit. Representing herself, she became emotional and told magistrates: “I just wanted to say sorry. It is out of character for me to do something like this.”
A relative then read a statement on her behalf, in which Kaur expressed that she was “deeply ashamed” to be appearing before the court. Prior to this “terrible mistake,” she said she had been a “law-abiding citizen”. She described the experience as a “profound wake-up call,” which led her to join Alcoholics Anonymous and take steps to ensure such an incident does not recur.
Kaur was fined £253, ordered to pay £85 in court costs, and a £101 victim surcharge. She was also disqualified from driving for 17 months but has the opportunity to reduce this period by 17 weeks upon completion of an approved course by a specified date.