Ban for woman who drink-drove in "panic" after family party

Wednesday 07 June 2023

A 41-year-old woman caught driving while well over the legal limit has been fined £2,500 and banned from driving in Jersey.

Charlotte Francis had been due to appear at the Magistrate's Court on 1 February, for the offence committed on 27 December.

She appeared for sentencing in the Magistrate's Court this week for sentencing.

The court heard that she was driving along Le Mont Millais at 23:00 on the night in question when traffic officers noticed the light on her rear number plate was not working.

Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, said Francis then failed a roadside breath test and undertook a test at police headquarters, which gave a reading of 62 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal maximum is 35 micrograms.

Advocate John Borg, defending, explained that Francis had been at a family birthday party that evening in question and had planned to spend the night at her parents’ house, but then realised she had forgotten to bring important medication with her.

Pictured: Francis appeared in the Magistrate's Court this week.

"In a moment’s panic she drove home to obtain the medication," he said.

He added that she had no previous convictions and had been co-operative with the police, saying: "Miss Francis is a lady of good character."

The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, fined her £2,000 for drinking and driving, £100 for failing to surrender to court and an additional £400 for eight parking offences.

Francis plans to move to Hampshire for a new job, but Mrs Shaw banned her from driving in Jersey for 18 months and said she must retake the Jersey driving test if she wants to drive on the Island in the future.