Woman from Walpole Highway caught drink driving on the way home from taking dog grooming course

A woman admitted in court to drink driving after being caught parked in a supermarket car park while over the limit.

Margaret-Rose Gonzalez-Micallef, 60, of School Road, Walpole Highway, appeared in Lynn's Magistrates' Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred in Wisbech.

Prosecuting was Emma Pocknell, who told the court that on Friday, December 2, 2022, Gonzalez-Micallef was at the Tesco express store in Wisbech, buying a bottle of wine.

A member of staff reported seeing a woman in a red coat put her car keys on the till and that Gonzalez-Micallef appeared unsteady on her feet.

Police officers found Gonzalez-Micallef asleep at the wheel and she admitted to them that she drove to the store around an hour earlier.

A breathalyser test was conducted and a reading of 85mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath exceeded the prescribed limit of 35mg.

Gonzalez-Micallef is a woman of previous good character with no previous convictions.

Mitigating was George Sorrell, who said that Gonzalez-Micallef faced problems with alcohol last year after a bereavement and losing her job.

He also said that she was on her way home from taking a dog grooming course.

"Her alcohol habit got worse and she was suffering from anxiety and depression.

"In the long term, police being there has made her look at her own life."

Gonzalez-Micallef was disqualified from driving for 22 months and was fined £120.

She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge fee of £48 and court costs of £105.