Mum Caught Drink Driving On School Run After Husband Called Police

Mum Caught Drink Driving On School Run After Husband Called Police
Solent

A mum-of-four was caught drink-driving while taking her kids to school after her husband tipped off the police.

Following a row, Emily Colbourne's husband Stuart rang 999 to warn them his wife was over the drink-driving limit.

Police pulled her up as she left a shop after dropping off two of her children, aged eight and 11, at school and found her to be one and a half times over the drink driving limit.

Worthing Magistrates Court banned her from driving for three years and fined her a total of £215.

The court was told that the night before, Colbourne, 33, from Henfield, West Sussex, and her husband had had a row after she returned late from the pub after an evening out with friends.

The argument continued the next morning until the mum set off on the school run.

Mr Colbourne, 33, then called the police.

Mark Rogers, defending, told the court: "There was a domestic argument. She slept for a few hours and then got up."

He said Mr Colbourne took their two youngest children – both under three years of age – to nursery while his wife took the two eldest to school in nearby Upper Beeding.

"She never intended to put her children at risk. She was anxious.

"If Mr Colbourne knew [she was over the limit], he should have taken all the children to school."

Colbourne was the first person to be charged by Sussex Police in its Christmas drink driving crackdown last year.

At the time, Colbourne told her local paper: "I, like many other people, truly believed I was legally allowed and safe to drive.

"I really hope others realise that it is not enough to rely on a night's sleep and breakfast to be under the legal drink drive limit.

"My mistake has caused enough upset for our family to cope and deal with.

"I am in no way condoning driving over the limit or making excuses but, if my actions save another parent or person making the same mistake at least some good will have come out of it."

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