A woman who crashed her car after drinking two thirds of a bottle of vodka was an advanced motorist, a court heard.

Jacqueline Ward, 63, became abusive when challenged by police officers and when they later asked her to formally give a second breath sample at the police station she pretended to faint.

At Carlisle Magistrates' Court, the defendant, of Foxfield Park, Edenhall, Penrith, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She was given a 29 month driving ban and a two month 7pm to 7am curfew.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said police were called out following an accident on the road near Tirril village, south of Penrith, on June 2.

A witness who was a passenger in a car that was being driven behind Ward's Skoda noticed it swerving from side to side, Mrs Ward told the court.

"The witness saw the Skoda driving straight towards a roundabout," said Mrs Ward. "It continued at the same speed and then collided with the car in front. There was no attempt to avoid the crash."

After clambering out of the her crashed car, the defendant was so unsteady on her feet that she had to hold on to the car. When police officers arrived at the scene, she became angry and aggressive, swearing and closing her eyes.

A search of the Skoda revealed in the front passenger side footwell a bottle of gin, three quarters of which had been drunk by the defendant.

An initial roadside breath test revealed Ward had an alcohol reading of 70mcg in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Later, at the police station, Ward refused to provide a second specimen as is required by law.

It was later confirmed that Ward was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

When the police officer had asked her to blow a second breath sample at the police station, she closed her eyes and pretended to faint, said the prosecutor.

Steven Marsh, for Ward, said his client had suffered from stress and anxiety, made worse when a part-time cleaning job she had taken on began to expand, with the employer steadily increasing her hours.

During a trip to Pooley Bridge earlier that day, he said, Ward, who historically had problems with alcohol, had found herself in a local shop, seen a bottle of vodka and bought in on impulse.

"She was been intending to drink the vodka before returning home," the lawyer told magistrates.

Mr Marsh added: "She feels ashamed and distressed by the circumstances of the offence and has written a letter of apology."

He stressed the remorse shown by Ward, a woman of previous good character, who had sought help from her GP.

In addition to the ban and curfew, magistrates imposed a community order that includes a six month alcohol treatment programme as well as costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of the same amount.