A drink-driver veered across the wrong side of the road, before mounting a pavement and crashing into a shop.

Marie Hinde, 42, was driving a Vauxhall Astra on Main Street in Egremont at 8.40pm on April 10, Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the car veered across the carriageway, and on to the pavement and then collided with Heron Foods, causing structural damage to the building.

Hinde suffered injuries herself, the court heard.

A taxi driver who witnessed the incident said he saw a car shoot across the road while over the speed limit and then mount the pavement and hit Heron Foods.

The taxi driver called the police and he and the passenger went over to the car.

Another witness said they saw the car go airborne.

Ms Fee said there were concerns that the driver was killed by the crash. The driver’s door was open and Hinde was unconscious.

A blood sample obtained in the hospital showed that Hinde had 225mcg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mcg.

Photos were shown to the court of the extent of the damage to the vehicle. CCTV footage was also played of the moment the car crashed into the store at speed.

Hinde was later interviewed by police and read a pre-prepared statement, which said: “As a result of the accident, I have no recollection of that day.”

The court heard that Hinde had been disqualified from driving in 2013 for failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

She was also convicted of driving with excess alcohol in June 2022.

Hinde, care of Scalegill Place, Moor Row, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on a road without due care and attention and driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit at a hearing on October 11.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service made reference to alcohol misuse problems.

He said: “For the last 20 days, she has abstained from alcohol entirely. She is monitoring her alcohol.

“We have to recognise there was an unacceptable standard of driving. She was involved in an accident.

“We have to be thankful that the actions she took on that day led only to consequences to her and not other road users or pedestrians.

“This defendant has been left with life-changing injuries. Her life will never be the same.”

Hinde was banned from driving for 52 months, which was the maximum ban magistrates could give.

A 12 month-community order was imposed with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

She was also fined £200 and must pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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