Woman who drove while more than twice legal limit spared jail

Thursday 24 August 2023

A woman, who drove along La Colomberie at more than twice the legal alcohol limit, has been told in court: "If community service wasn’t available, you would be going to prison."

Appearing in court yesterday, Amy Brown was instead sentenced to 100 hours of community service and banned from driving for two years for the offence, but was warned that the level of alcohol put her offence within the range for custody.

St. Helier Centenier Paul Huelin, prosecuting, said States police officers had seen the 31-year-old driver hitting the kerb as as she drove her grey Suzuki along the street at 02:50 on 1 July.

He said: "She said she had had a couple of drinks earlier. Her speech was slurred and there was a glazed look in her eyes."

Pictured: The case was heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

A breath test showed she had 81 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal maximum of 35 micrograms.

Brown had no previous convictions, and the Centenier added: "She was polite and compliant."

Advocate Ian Jones, defending, explained that Brown had been out with work colleagues that night and had taken a taxi home.

He said: "She discovered she had left her house keys at work and drove back to get them. Miss Brown accepts there is no excuse."

Magistrate Bridget Shaw gave Brown credit for her guilty plea and lack of previous convictions and accepted the advice of probation officers that she was suitable for community service.

She will have to retake the driving test before being allowed back on the roads.