Woman drink-drove down wrong side of Stafford Road with children in car
A woman has admitted driving down the wrong side of the road while more than twice the drink drive limit.
Louise Stanton was seen by police driving a Renault Megane on the wrong side of the dual carriageway in Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, and officers watched as an oncoming car sounded its horn and had to swerve to avoid a crash with the car.
Police could see two children in the vehicle and officers followed the 40-year-old to a nearby McDonald's car park, Walsall Magistrates' Court heard.
Miss Helen Shipley, prosecuting, said: "She was travelling at 1.30am on a two-lane dual carriageway in a 40mph area.
"The officers' attention was drawn because the car was travelling on the wrong side of the dual carriageway.
"An oncoming vehicle sounded its horn and had to take evasive action to ensure it didn't collide with the car.
"There were two children in the car."
When police stopped Stanton on December 28 she "immediately began apologising saying she did not know the area", Miss Shipley added.
But an officer could smell liquor and saw a can of cider in the rear and Stanton admitted she had been drinking the evening before.
The court heard this was Stanton's second offence of the type in 10 years.
Stanton, of Brindley Crescent, Hednesford, pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Walsall Magistrates' Court and the bench was told heard she provided a reading of 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.
Stanton was bailed until a probation report can be prepared for her sentencing on February 7 at Walsall Magistrates' Court.
