A NORTHWICH woman was more than three times over the drink-drive limit when she hit a police car attending an incident.

Karen Price, of Agecroft Road, damaged the wing mirror of the vehicle as officers were dealing with an incident involving one of her family members on November 13.

The 48-year-old had been called to an address in Middlewich Road, Rudheath, to look after children while the family member dealt with the incident.

After clipping the police car, Price was breathalysed and was found to have 107 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of her breath. The legal limit is 35.

Price appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 29, where she pleaded guilty drink-driving. 

Prosecutor, Georgia Leyland, told the court at 8.40pm on Sunday, November 13, police officers were dealing with an incident on Middlewich Road, when a black vehicle driven by Price hit their car even though its red ‘incident’ rear lights were flashing.

Officers watched as Price parked up nearby, then approached her and asked if she was aware of what happened.

The officer judged her to be drunk, so performed a breath test, which was positive.

She was arrested and taken into custody where she was breathalysed again. 

Defending, Richard Sibeon explained Price had attended a Remembrance Sunday event in Stockport, where she has family links.

Afterwards she went to a pub, then travelled home by train and taxi.

While at home, she received a phone call from her family member to say the police were attending an incident at their home in Middlewich Road, and someone was needed to come and look after the children.

Mr Sibeon said: “Karen Price is 48 and has no previous convictions.

“She had done everything right that day. Expecting that she would be drinking, she had taken a train and a taxi. Then the unexpected happened.  

“This was utterly, utterly out of character. It was a spur of the moment decision, one which she thoroughly regrets.”

Addressing the bench, he added: “When considering sentence, it is worth bearing in mind, for a woman like Karen Price, her loss of good character is a heavy price to pay and the impact of that should not be underestimated.

“Conviction itself is a huge penalty for this lady.”

Taking her guilty plea and previous good character into account, magistrates sentenced Price to a 12-month community order, including 40 hours of unpaid work.

She was also banned from driving for 24 months and ordered to pay £120 court costs and a £114 surcharge.