THE case of a 55-year-old motorist caught twice driving under the influence of cocaine was described as a ‘classic fall from grace’.

Julie Allenby committed the first offence in Blackpool on January 26 last year, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said police had been on mobile patrol when they were stopped by another motorist who alerted them to the ‘poor driving’ of a black BMW.

Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to Allenby. They believed she was under the influence of a substance.

A drugs wipe was positive for cocaine and she was arrested. She provided a blood sample at the police station which gave a reading of 13mcg of cocaine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 10mcg.

The second offence took place in Egremont on April 27 last year. Police had been on mobile patrol at 3am when they stopped Allenby’s vehicle on the A595.

She appeared to be under the influence and a drugs wipe was positive for cocaine. A blood sample revealed she had 22mcg of cocaine per litre of blood.

Allenby gave ‘no comment’ during police interview.

Mike Pope, defending, said it was a ‘classic fall from grace’, telling the court that Allenby had ‘spiralled downward very quickly’.

Mr Pope said: “The defendant had fallen on hard times. She was using cocaine to numb pain.

“She has managed to get into a hostel in Workington. She has re-established relationships with family. Things are back on track and crucially, there have been no offences.”

Allenby, of John Street, Workington, had admitted two charges of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, at earlier court hearings.

Passing sentence on Monday, magistrates banned Allenby from driving for three years and imposed a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

She was fined £60 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.