A CHARD woman who refused to comply with a suspended prison sentence imposed for three offences of drink driving has been sent behind bars for eight weeks.

Jane Louise Webb persistently failed to attend her appointments with the Probation Service and said she would not take part in a programme to address her alcohol issues as she claimed she had already stopped drinking of her own accord.

Somerset Magistrates were told that the defendant claimed she did not have the money to pay for her bus fare to attend the appointments, even after being told she would be reimbursed.

And even though transport was arranged to collect her to attend a special alcohol-related programme she refused to comply saying there was no point as she had already given up the booze.

The 51-year-old defendant, of Coker Way, admitted failing to comply with a community requirement of an eight week suspended sentence order made by Somerset Magistrates Court on July 26 by failing to attend probation appointments on August 30 and September 24.

Despite pleas from her solicitor that Webb had suffered many difficulties in her personal life, the magistrates told her that they were activating the eight week sentence in full telling her she could not choose which parts of a court order she would comply with.

Webb was given the suspended sentence in July this year along with a three year driving ban after being caught drink driving three times in three weeks.

She then drove her motability car at a police officer who tried to block her path causing him to jump out of the way for his own safety.

The court heard previously Webb had been drinking heavily since 1998 and had not thought about the potential consequences of her actions after getting behind the wheel when she was drunk.

After being bailed twice for driving with excess alcohol police tried to pull her over on a third occasion but she sped off and refused to stop.

After blocking her car in a police officer got out and stood in front of her where she revved the engine and lunged the vehicle towards him before eventually being apprehended.

Probation officer Mo Lawton said that when Webb was given her first appointment of the order she phoned the office to say she was unwell and a warning notice was issued.

Subsequent appointments were also not attended after claims that she was unwell.

“She then contacted the probation service saying she had stopped drinking and was not prepared to sit in a group for hours,” she said.

“Some flexibility has been organised for the defendant in relation to her attending the Probation Service and she was told her bus fare would be reimbursed for her appointments.

“When she missed one appointment she phoned to say that two buses had not arrived, and despite attending one appointment on August 23 she failed to attend subsequent ones.

“She also said she would not comply with the alcohol-related programme as she stated she had stopped drinking and indicated she would not comply.”

Defending solicitor Sue Baker said that although it had not been a very promising beginning for Webb, it would be unjust to activate the suspended sentence.

She said that Webb lost her father in 1989 and her mother seven years ago and she had still not accepted either bereavement and turned to the bottle as a result.

“At the time of these breaches she had managed to get off the alcohol and said she did not have to do the probation order,” she said.

“She has been to Alcoholics Anonymous on her own and stopped drinking and has not got into any further trouble.

“She also manned up and has been brave enough to come to court today and also suffers with mental health difficulties as well as suffering from physical disabilities."