A CREWKERNE woman who went out to celebrate her promotion could now lose her job completely after she was caught drink driving.

Care worker George-May Flatt spent the night out with colleagues having a few drinks but was reported to police by a member of the public who suspected she had been drinking.

Officers located the defendant’s vehicle as she was nearly home, and when she was asked to take a roadside breath test she gave a positive result.

Flatt, 20, of Weavers Close, pleaded guilty to driving a Beetle vehicle in Crewkerne on November 23 after consuming excess alcohol.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the police received a call at 9.30pm to say that the driver of a vehicle was believed to be over the drink drive limit.

“Officers found the car on South Street in Crewkerne as it was turning into Weavers Close," she said.

“Flatt was parking in a space and when the officers approached her she admitted drinking alcohol and then failed a roadside breath test.”

The defendant was taken to Yeovil police station and a further test produced a reading of 66mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg of alcohol.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that Flatt worked at a day centre in Chard for people with learning difficulties.

“A few days before this she had been promoted and had gone out the next morning to celebrate with some work colleagues,” he said.

“Foolishly she drank more than she should have done and she did not realise she was over the limit.”

He said there had been no suggestion of any inappropriate driving and she was concerned about the potential loss of her job because of the distance she lived from her work.

He added that Flatt’s employers were aware of the offence but had yet to decide her future.

The magistrates banned the defendant from driving for 18 months and fined her £355 with £85 costs and a £35 victim surcharge.