Riandra Ellere, 47, was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after she was arrested following witness reports of her driving erratically on 6 February.
Prosecuting Advocate Jenny McVeigh told the Court that Ellere was driving a company branded vehicle sometime before 13:00 on La Couperderie, St. Peter Port.
She said this was a narrow, one-way street which allowed on-street parking, and the roads were wet on the day.
Advocate McVeigh said Ellere passed a vehicle on the street, striking its offside wing mirror which smashed and fell to the ground.
Ellere continued driving and then hit another car with such force that the the stationary car moved and hit a neighbouring car. This car did not sustain any damage.
Pictured: The incident occurred on La Couperderie.
Advocate McVeigh said the noise of the first impact alerted a resident living on the street who then looked out the window.
The second impact left Ellere’s vehicle at an angle in the middle of the road, blocking it entirely.
The witness reported that Ellere stalled the car, restarted it, then continued to drive along the road again.
A patron at the Plough Inn also recalled hearing a “loud bang” according to Advocate McVeigh, and then saw the defendant’s car drive onto Vauvert where Ellere parked in a disabled space with the rear wheels of the vehicle outside the bay.
Police officers visited Ellere’s home address as she had left the area by the time they arrived. Advocate McVeigh said that knocks on the door went unanswered, and the police were subsequently granted access to the property by the manager.
On entry, officers immediately smelt alcohol and found Ellere asleep in bed, forming the opinion that she was intoxicated.
The keys to the vehicle were found in her jacket pocket and she was then arrested. Ellere gave a breathalyser reading of 106mcg, just over three times the legal limit.
Advocate McVeigh said that Ellere initially denied driving and under caution gave “no comment” responses to questioning.
Pictured: Ellere was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Defence Advocate Sam Maindonald highlighted Ellere’s previous good character. She said her client had recently experienced the breakdown of an abusive relationship and that the “situation became overwhelming”.
This had led Ellere to “unfortunately self-medicate with alcohol,” including the day before the incident where she had consumed an entire bottle of vodka.
Advocate Maindonald said her client acknowledged it was fortunate no-one was injured and understood that all sentencing options were open.
“She is remorseful and ashamed,” said Advocate Maindonald, recognising that the incident represented a “serious offence.”
Pictured: Drink driving is viewed as a serious offence by the courts.
Judge Gary Perry was cognizant of Ellere’s early guilty plea and references which spoke highly of the defendant.
But he added that “many people come before the Court with previous good character,” as he repeated that it was a “serious offence” aggravated by the high breathalyser reading.
Judge Perry said the actions posed a “real risk to the public of Guernsey”.
He sentenced Ellere to 6 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year, and a fine of £800 for the charge of drink driving.
For the charge of failing to stop, Judge Perry imposed a £400 fine. Ellere was also disqualified from driving for three years.