A grief-stricken woman who crashed her car after drinking wine was returning from her father's grave, a court heard.

When she was initially breath-tested at the roadside following the crash, Mary Butterworth, 63, appeared to be over the limit by about three times but she was unable to given any further breath specimens.

At Carlisle's Rickergate courts complex, Butterworth, of West Hall, Brampton, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, told the court how on May 5 the defendant's Seat car crashed into a wall at Banks, near Lanercost. “A male was seen pulling her out of a small black car,” said Mrs Ward.

“Police officers attended and Mrs Butterworth initially appeared confused. There was a smell of intoxicants and she was asked to provide a breath specimen.”

The initial alcohol reading was 119mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Mrs Ward said: “Her husband, Mr Butterworth, confirmed that she was driving the vehicle and he had pulled her out of the car after she had the collision.

The defendant confirmed that she had been drinking wine and that her father had just died and she found this very upsetting, said Mrs Ward.

She said that this background was no excuse and she felt awful about what had happened, adding that she misjudged and drove into the wall.

Chris Toms, for Butterworth, said his client had visited her father's grave in Brampton and then drank wine.

The lawyer said: “When the police attended, she did provide a specimen but when she got to the police station she was completely overwhelmed.

“She did provide one breath specimen but the second one wasn't sufficient.”

Now semi-retired, Butterworth was a woman with no previous convictions and she would never again trouble the courts, said Mr Toms.

Magistrates imposed a ten week custodial sentence but suspended it for a year, accepting that Butterworth's offence was clearly linked to her recent bereavement.

They also imposed a 12 month community order with a ten day rehabilitation requirement.

“Hopefully, you will get the support you need,” said presiding magistrate Marcia Reid Fotheringham.

The defendant, supported in court by her husband, was banned from driving for 29 months, and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and prosecutions costs of £85. She thanked magistrates as she left court.