A CONVICTED drink driver has narrowly avoided being sent to prison after trying to mow down a police officer during an alcohol-fuelled car chase.

Jane Louise Webb, 51, of Coker Way, Chard, was given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting three charges of drink driving at Yeovil Magistrates Court.

The court heard Webb had been caught drink driving three times in three weeks by officers. In the most recent offence, Webb drove her car at a police officer before speeding off when he tried to stop her.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said on May 14, a witness called the police just after 2pm saying he was driving behind a car that was being driven in a dangerous manner and he believed the female driver was intoxicated.

It was found in Brunswick Street in Yeovil and they spoke to Webb who was the driver and she said she couldn’t comply with a breath test as she had asthma.

After being taken to Yeovil police station a blood test produced a reading that was more than one and a half times over the drink drive limit.

On May 28 Webb was seen driving in Fore Street, Chard, at 9.40pm without any lights on and when police stopped her she admitted she had drunk two glasses of wine a few hours earlier.

“There were numerous failed attempts to take a breath test at the roadside and when she was arrested a blood test was taken and produced a reading of 143mlg of alcohol in blood, the limit being 80mlg of alcohol,” said Miss Lenanton.
Then on June 6 a member of the public called police at 9.30pm in relation to a suspected drink driver and they saw Webb’s vehicle parked in Chard’s High Street and then saw her approach the vehicle.

Miss Lenanton told the court: “The officers asked her not to get in but she ignored that and drove it away so they activated their emergency equipment but the defendant continued to drive and her speed increased to 50mph in a 30mph zone.

“The police overtook her and stopped in front of her car and another police vehicle parked behind her to block her in. An officer then stood in front of the defendant’s car indicating to her to stop.

“But, she revved it twice and her vehicle lunged forwards and she drove towards him causing him to jump out of the way.

“Webb then drove around the first police vehicle and eventually stopped in a car park in Coker Way.”

When officers arrived at the car park, they went to open her door but Webb tried to pull it shut, and when they took the keys from her she was abusive and uncooperative, shouting, swearing and was slurring her words.

At the police station, a urine test showed she was more than double the drink-drive limit.

Defending, Sue Baker told the court: “She does have a drink problem and acknowledges that she has to do something about this, and she also has mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

“She has obviously taken some very unwise decisions while under the influence of alcohol and she knows this is serious and is under no illusions that she may immediately go into prison but has still been brave enough to come to court.

“It is an incredibly stupid thing that she has done but she has now faced up to it.”

Probation officer Joe Harper told the court Webb could not recall much about each individual offence but said she admitted drinking heavily since 1998 and said she drank about two bottles of wine every other day.

Webb admitted pleaded guilty to drink driving on May 14, May 28 and June 6.

In imposing the eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, the magistrates also ordered Webb to comply with a 45-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement under the supervision of the Probation Service.
She was also banned from driving for three years.