Drink driver refused breath test

Mother-of-five Julie Greaves (48) told police: "I have been drinking and I have been driving it," when police turned up at a house on Girvan Grove, Burnley, and she confirmed a car outside was hers.

The town's magistrates were told how the carer, who had been drinking after finishing three night shifts, blew 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the roadside. The legal limit is 35. She was taken to the police station and wouldn't give a test, stating: "I refuse."

The defendant, of Mitton Grove, Burnley, admitted falling to provide a specimen for analysis, on September 10th. She was banned for 20 months and given a 12-month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work. Greaves, who had no previous convictions, was told to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Miss Cathryn Fell (defending) said the incident was a one-off. Greaves had been having problems with her brother's girlfriend's family.

She had a drink, got into her pyjamas and intended to stay at home and go to bed. The solicitor continued: "Unfortunately, because of problems, they had been calling her mother, now deceased, various names, she got very upset and decided to go and try to talk to these people to sort this out."

A probation officer who interviewed the defendant, said she was "very remorseful and very sorry."