An 18-year-old girl from Greater Manchester has appeared before Tameside magistrates after she crashed her car while drink driving.
Prosecuting, Gareth Hughes told the court: “It was around 2am on January 21 and police officers on patrol came across an ambulance stationary with its emergency equipment activated.
“They stopped and checked the situation and were told by the paramedics that they had seen the vehicle collide with a metal fence. After speaking to the two females present in the vehicle, the paramedics told them they had seen the females switch seats after they arrived.
“At that point both females were arrested. Miss Pickering was in the passenger seat when police arrived but there was the information that they had switched seats. They arrested her on suspicion of driving a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.
“At the police station, the breath testing procedure commenced but the defendant failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. She was warned that if she failed to do so she was at risk of prosecution but she still did not provide. She was given ample opportunity but she was questioning the reasons for giving a sample.
“Ultimately it was a wilful refusal. The procedure was explained to her more than once but she does not provide a sample. It was a deliberate or wilful refusal.”
As with drink driving, failing to provide a sample carries a mandatory driving ban for a minimum of 12 months, however, the average is around 18 months.
A pre-sentence report from the probation service revealed that she had originally driven to the pub with the intention of leaving it overnight.
It stated: “Unfortunately, due to the level of alcohol consumed she made the poor decision to drive. It was partly a poor decision, there was also some peer pressure from people she was drinking with who were much older than her. But she appreciates that it was her decision to drive.”
The report then noted that the girl regretted all of her actions, including the fact that she “acted stupidly” while in custody, adding that she did not usually drink to such excess.
Probation officers deemed her to be a low risk of reoffending.
Mitigating, the girl’s solicitor, David Caplin, said: “It appears she is a conscientious and hardworking individual. She has done two years on her apprenticeship and she has one year to go. She is looking forward to qualifying in that profession.
“She has been candid with her employer, which is a very refreshing thing to hear. She is of good character. There are no previous convictions. She is certainly remorseful, as seen clearly in the conversation with the probation service.
“She has dropped those friends and associates she thinks could lead her down the wrong path. I understand very little damage was done and there were no injuries. She bumped into some street furniture. I do not think there was any claim of damage.
“Ironically, the passenger was far older than her, the defendant is only 18. She was one of the group who encouraged her to drive. It is pretty clear on any analysis, that my client is not going to darken the door of the court again.”
On sentencing, JP Dennis Hilton told her: “We recognise that you are 18 and liable to make rash decisions. It does not excuse anything but we do note it. A charity shop is a pleasant environment so it could be a lot worse. Hopefully, we won’t be seeing you again.”
JP Hilton banned her from driving for 20 months and ordered her to pay £199 in costs and charges. She must also undertake 60 hours of unpaid work. Her ban may be reduced by 5 months on completion of the drink driving rehabilitation course.
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