School-run mum three times over limit
A mother did the school run while more than three times the legal drink-drive limit after hitting the bottle while off work, a court heard.
Tammy Smylie, of Ampleforth Drive, Stafford, was stopped by police with her five and six-year-old children in the back of her Kia Sportage, Cannock Magistrates' Court was told.
The 40-year-old mother-of-three was pulled over on Radford Bank at 3.40pm shortly after picking up the children from St Anne's Primary School on April 16.
Prosecutor Mr John Peel said police pulled over Mrs Smylie's car after becoming suspicious the driver was drunk.
He said: "A roadside breath test was carried out and which showed to be positive. She was arrested and cautioned before being taken to the police station." The court was told further tests found 110mg of alcohol in 100ml of her breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Defending, Miss Janet Emery said her client, who admitted one count of drink driving, had suddenly been signed off work after psychiatric assessments. The court heard she had turned to drinking heavily while at home on her own.
Miss Emery said: "She is mortified by what she did. It would be the last thing on her mind to put her children in a position to be harmed in any way and that is a frightening thing for her."
Magistrates banned Smylie from driving for 26 months. She was also given a 12-month community order and will be under a 12-month supervision programme. She was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.
