A CREWKERNE woman who was seen by a witness driving on the wrong side of the road and “hitting things” was found to be more than four times over the drink drive limit when breathalysed by the police.

Marie Roseline Annabel Levaux was seen driving through Martock in an erratic manner when several members of the public called 999 to report their concerns.

One of the witnesses followed the car until it came to a halt in Crewkerne town centre, and when the defendant was spoken to she smelt of alcohol so was arrested.

When the 52-year-old defendant, of Severalls Park Avenue, appeared before Somerset Magistrates she pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on Market Square, Crewkerne, after consuming excess alcohol on May 3.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the police received a number of emergency calls from members of the public to say they had seen a Peugeot vehicle being driven on the A356 through Martock.

“They were concerned about the manner of driving as the driver was on the wrong side of the road and was hitting things and they believed the female driver may have been over the drink drive limit,” she said.

“One of the members of the public followed the vehicle until it came to a halt in Market Square, Crewkerne, and was seen by the police.

“When they spoke to the defendant her speech was slurred and she had an inability to speak clearly and smelt of alcohol so was arrested.”

She was taken into custody where a breath test was carried out and she produced a reading of 142mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

The court was also told that Levaux had a previous conviction for a drink driving offence in 2009 leaving her liable to a minimum three year disqualification.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said that Levaux was aware she had committed a serious offence but had been suffering from depression and was drinking excessively.

“She was working at a hotel doing housekeeping work and had also suffered the loss of a business after amassing debts, and that probably started her drinking again,” he said.

“She is now selling her car so there will be no temptation to drive and she lives in an area where there is public transport.”

The magistrates banned her from driving for three years and sentenced her to an 18 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work and a 25 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. They also imposed an £85 victim surcharge.