Legal News
Drink-driver pleads court to keep licence as her “drive-way is too long to walk” (14 March 2018)
Date: 14/03/2018
Daughter of the late Coronation Street actor Percy Sugden has been charged with drink driving after taking her car to a local corner shop in an intoxicated state. During her recent trial at Stockport Magistrates' Court, she asked the court to allow her to keep her licence since her “drive-way is too long to walk”.
Ms Woodward was recently widowed and the incident occurred just two days after her husband’s funeral. They shared a large property in Cheshire, which boasts a quarter mile driveway.
On the day in question, Ms Woodward had driven to the shop, entered and paid for a selection of wine, before driving off at just 5mph. The shopkeeper said she had appeared visibly drunk and immediately reported her to the police.
When she was found, the police observed Ms Woodward was dishevelled and appeared to slur her words. After a specimen was provided, it was found that she had 104 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, which is almost 3 times over the drink driving limit.
Nigel Beeson, for the defence, said a ban from driving would cause Ms Woodward to have to make some life-style changes in order to negotiate the length of her driveway on a daily basis and that a community order would be difficult for her to cope with since she has never worked before.
Speaking at the court, Ms Woodward explained how the death of her husband drove her to make such a reckless decision, putting herself and other road users at risk.
“I was just so distraught. I have never and will never drive after having a drink. I know it was wrong to have a drink in the car but I was desperate to get rid of the pain I was feeling."
She was sentenced to a two year disqualification from driving, ordered to pay a £560 fine and £705 in costs, but was not given community service.
Neil Sargeant, Drink Driving specialist at Duncan Lewis Solicitors explains:
“Drink driving carries a mandatory disqualification which means the only way to avoid it is by running a successful defence or by arguing that a “special reason” exists. It is unclear on what grounds Ms Woodward tried to defend her case but the length of her driveway would certainly not amount to a special reason to avoid a disqualification. The sentence imposed sits within the guideline range as a breath result that high can result in a disqualification between 23 and 28 months and irrespective of Ms Woodward’s mitigation, it seems that to an extent the court’s hands were tied so far as the disqualification was concerned.”
Neil Sargeant is a Road Traffic specialist within the Duncan Lewis Crime Department, based in Harrow. For specialist advice please call Neil on 02031141145 or email him on neils@duncanlewis.com.
Neil has specialised in Road Traffic Law since 2008, establishing close working relationships with some of the country’s leading experts in this field and maintaining an outstanding record of client acquittals. His specialist expertise stretch across all road traffic law, but is most extensive in:
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