Last updated at 11:41, Wednesday, 13 June 2012

A university lecturer who almost caused a head-on crash while more than three times over the legal alcohol limit has been banned from driving for two years.

Members of the public called police after spotting a Landrover Freelander – being driven by Therese Alison Gabriel Lewis – weaving around on the road from Alston to Nenthead.

They found the 55-year-old parked up on the A689 behind a Transit van. The van driver told officers the Freelander almost caused a head-on collision.

The Northumbria University lecturer failed a road side breath test. She was arrested and taken to the police station, where a further test gave a reading of 108 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitires of breath – over three times the legal limit of 35.

Lewis, of Ripley Cottage, Overwater, Nenthead, Alston, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to drink driving.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Stirland told the court Lewis lived in Nenthead but travelled to Newcastle to work. On the day of the offence, May 24, she had been drinking until about 4am but thought she would be okay to drive 12 hours later, when she was stopped by police. Her two dogs had gone missing and she had gone to find them.

Magistrates fined Lewis £1,350, plus £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge. She was also disqualified from driving for 24 months. This can be reduced by 24 weeks if she completes a drink-driver’s rehabilitation course.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk