AN EDEN Valley woman who was caught drink driving as she drove home after a night out made a 'genuine error,' magistrates were told.

A defence lawyer for 48-year-old Angela Shaw told Carlisle’s Rickergate court that she 'honestly believed' she was fit to drive when police stopped and breathalysed her on at Culgaith on March 14.

A breath test showed that she had 55mcg of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit for driving is 35mcg.

Prosecutor Andy Travis said police became aware of the defendant as she drove her Peugeot 2008 Feline Mistral on the B6412 at 11.05pm after she was seen driving away from the Shepherd’s Inn, Langwathby.

Mr Travis said police recognised the car because of information previously provided regarding alleged drink driving.

They stopped the car as it was entering Culgaith village.

Shaw was previously a woman of good character.

Sam Roxborough, defending, told magistrates: “She’d been with friends to the Shepherd’s Inn, got into her car to drive home, and honestly believed she was fit to drive.

“She had nearly got to her home address when she was pulled over by the police.”

The police officer involved noted that Shaw was cooperative and quietly spoken and he did not believe she appeared to be drunk.

The lawyer said the defendant, of Whinfell View, Culgaith, did not agree that her speech was slurred, as suggested by the officer.

Mr Roxborough added: “This is a case of a genuine error, albeit it’s one she has accepted at the earliest opportunity.”

The defendant had held a driving licence for 31 years and not had so much as a single penalty point.

Shaw was supporting her mother, who lives 10 miles away, following a cancer diagnosis by taking her to regular hospital appointments while her father was also recently also diagnosed with cancer, said the lawyer.

Given that the area where Shaw lives is not well-served by public transport, losing her licence will have a 'gigantic impact,' said Roxborough.

Magistrates imposed the mandatory minimum one-year ban, and also fined Shaw £80, with £85 prosecution costs and a £32 victim surcharge. They noted that she was a woman of previous good character.