Nurse who admitted drinking and driving almost escapes road ban

Stevie Schofield, 24, of Amber Grove, Forest Town was found by police slumped across the front seats of her car near the village of Ompton in the early hours of April 17.

Police initially thought the car had been abandoned, and when they woke her, in a confused state she tried to put the ignition keys in the headlight switch.

She then blew 58 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, Mansfield Magistrates’ Court heard. Then legal limit is 35 mcgs.

However, she then failed to provide another breath test at the police station, meaning the police could only charge her with failing to provide a sample, rather than drink driving.

During the hearing, her solicitor, Morgan Hogarth, even admitted that his client ‘had a few drinks’ then went for a drive but got lost, pulled over and went to sleep.

He said she had no intention of driving further.

Mr Hogarth said she had suffered from anxiety and depression which caused her to fail to give a breath test at the station.

Despite this, District Judge Andrew Meachin said she was in an ‘obvious state of intoxication’.

Addressing Schofield: “It’s clear to me that you drank and drove, we will never know what the reading was .

“The aggravating features are clear to me so I can’t avoid imposing a ban in this case.”

She was banned for six months, fined £550 and made to pay £140 costs.