A WOMAN from Swindon has been sentenced by a court in Cornwall after pleading guilty to driving whilst over twice the legal alcohol limit. 

Natasha Dreyer, aged 43, of Bute Close in Swindon had her case heard at Bodmin Law Courts on Tuesday, January 9 where she pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the legal limit. 

The offence took place on the A3083 between Higher Bochym and Friars Lane in Penhale, near Ruan Minor, on August 23, 2023, where Dreyer was found to be driving a white BMW after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her breath, namely 76 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit.

For context, the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

During her sentencing, Dreyer was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 20 months and was fined £810. She was also made to pay costs of £135 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a surcharge of £324. 

According to the Sentencing Council, if a person is found guilty of drink driving, sentences can range from being banned from driving, fined, or even sent to prison.

The police have the right to ask anyone who is driving, attempting to drive or in charge of a vehicle who they suspect has been drinking to take a breath test. Anyone who refuses to supply a breath sample without reasonable excuse will be arrested.

If a person fails a roadside breath test, they will be taken to a police station for a second breath test. If positive, that individual will be charged with drink driving. Failing to take the roadside test or police station test without a reasonable excuse is an offence.

The sentence imposed will depend on the severity of the offence.