A woman has been banned from the road for two years after she was caught drink-driving home from a Halloween party. Polo playing Liza Nixon, 55, who had been drinking Prosecco, was nearly three times the legal alcohol limit when police stopped her white Range Rover Sport following a tip-off.
Officers said the mother-of-one was so intoxicated her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet, stumbling as she walked to the police car.
Nixon later said she had planned to get a cab home from the Halloween party held at a farm in the village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, but decided to drive 17 miles to her £1.4m property on Townfield Lane in Mollington, near Chester, after being 'spooked' by two of the guests, a court heard.
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At Chester magistrates' court, Nixon admitted drink driving and on Tuesday was also ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order. The incident occurred at 12.30am on October 29 this year after police spotted Nixon driving out of a car park at a rugby club in Chester.
Lionel Cope, prosecuting, said: ''Officers had earlier received information of a drink-driver in a white Range Rover travelling towards Chester. They noticed there was a female in the driver's seat and the female continued to pull out of the car park. The officer went in front of her and drove for 20 yards and then activated his lights to stop the vehicle.
"It was believed the lady was under the influence of alcohol as her speech was slurred and she was clearly unsteady on her feet. She stumbled to the police car and sat in the back of the police car.''
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A breath test reading showed Nixon had 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35mg. A probation report compiled on Nixon said: “She has been very candid in interview and very cooperative. She attended a party in Little Budworth and had driven over there at 6pm in the evening.
"She arrived there about 6.30pm and her intention was to consume one glass of Prosecco but decisions were made about 8pm that she would start to consume more alcohol and then get a taxi home. She admits that should have planned it better and she admits that at the time she started to drink more alcohol she should have organised a taxi. But she did not do that and she waited till past 11pm.
"She had arranged a cab but it could not find the address as the middle of a rural part of the farm, where the party was taking place, and she started to panic. She was outside in a secluded area and the people who had organised the party had gone into their home whilst two other females were vaping.
"She did not feel particularly comfortable and admits that she made a very foolish decision to get in her Range Rover and drive back towards Chester. Obviously she was over the limit and she was not thinking particularly clearly. She was out of her comfort zone and made a stupid decision.''
The report added: "She enjoys good health in the main. She has a proactive lifestyle, very much in the country with horses and polo and she goes to the gym regularly. She has five properties that she rents out and that is her business. She was divorced a number of years ago.
"On this particular night she was just feeling a little bit low and made the stupid decision to not plan ahead and book a taxi and to drink to the level she did. She does not consume over and above what is social level drinker would.
"She lives in quite a rural area and has a son who is very close to her. She has invested in a bike and has started to make adjustments already. This seems to be a completely isolated offence."
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Nixon's counsel Kathrine Wright said: "She had been at a Halloween party and had driven there not planning to drink. In fact, she ended up having a few drinks and intended to get a taxi home. But they could not get out, as the location was quite remote. She was left with two women and did not feel safe and after a while she made the decision, which she accepts was a completely stupid one, to drive home. She is extremely remorseful for what she describes as a stupid mistake.
"She is apologetic for the use of both police time and court time. She has never been in trouble before and will not trouble the courts again. She is very ashamed of her actions and is grateful that no one was harmed as a result of them.
"This is completely out of character for her and she has not had a drink since this incident. She assures the court that she will never find herself in this situation again. It is clearly a one off.''
Miss Wright added: "She is the proud mum of a 22-year-old son with her ex-husband. They have both provided references along with her best friend. All speak very highly of her positive characteristics and good nature. All comment on the fact that this is extremely out of character for her."
Nixon was also ordered to pay £214 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge. She was also offered the opportunity to take the drink drive awareness course which will reduce her driving ban by a quarter.