Driver who 'found solace in alcohol' got behind wheel drunk

52-year-old disqualified for three years

A Douglas woman has been banned from the road for three years after being caught drink driving.

Louisa Debeer, of Peel Road, was followed by a police officer through the capital on the evening of 15 September.

They’d noted she hadn’t turned the headlights of her Honda Jazz on – she was also seen straddling the centre white lines and failing to stop behind the line at a red traffic light.

The 52-year-old was pulled over on Hope Street – she refused to do a roadside breath test and was taken to Police Headquarters; tests there showed she was more than double the legal limit.

At Douglas Courthouse she admitted drink driving - her advocate told the court his client was ‘ordinarily completely law abiding’ but had ‘self-medicated with alcohol’ due to family issues.

Disqualifying Debeer, and fining her £1,500, Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told her: "Whilst finding solace in alcohol is one thing to get behind the wheel of a car, and potentially endanger others, is something else.”

She'll also have to pay prosecution costs of £125 and will remain disqualified at the end of the ban unless she takes, and passes, an extended driving test.