Drink-drive mum crashed into ditch on way to pick up daughter after New Year's party
A mother who was more than twice the drink-drive limit crashed her car into a ditch on the way to pick up her young daughter on New Year's Day.
Walsall woman Dawn Howitt had drank gin and tonic on Saturday, December 31 at a friend's house party, a court heard.
The 42-year-old school worker from Hillside Close, Pelsall, walked home and fell asleep only to wake up wondering where her seven-year-old daughter was - forgetting she had arranged for her to stay over at the house.
On her way back to the address Howitt's Suzuki Vitara into street signs and bollards on Chester Road, Stonnall before resting in a ditch.
Residents heard the crash and called police who attended and quizzed Howitt.
She admitted being the driver of the vehicle and recorded a positive road-side breath test.
At the police station the proportion of alcohol in her breath was recorded as 92 microgrammes in 100 millilitres - the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Magistrates sitting in Cannock, banned Howitt from driving for two years.
Stephen Lee, defending, said: "Ms Howitt has no previous convictions and has never had a single point or endorsement on her licence.
"She has gone to a New Year's Eve party, she is a single mother, has gone with her seven-year-old daughter.
"She arranged for a taxi to pick them up but the taxi did not turn up.
"An arrangement was made with the people at the party for her seven-year-old daughter to remain overnight and Ms Howitt would walk home.
"She got home and went to bed but woke up sometime later as she couldn't understand why her daughter wasn't there, she was obviously still intoxicated and had forgotten what had happened so she drove back to the address when she had this collision."
Howitt pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motorvehicle while alcohol was above the legal limit.
Mr Lee added: "This is completely out of character for this woman.
"She works in a school for children with special educational needs which is quite a responsible job.
"She is utterly ashamed as to what has happened.
"She made a genuine mistake as a result of having too much to drink."
Howitt was also fined £196 and ordered to pay £135 in court costs as well as a £30 victim surcharge.
