A SUSPECTED drink-driver who refused to give a breath specimen to the States police has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service and banned from the roads for two and a half years.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that 44-year-old Lyndsay Jane Richardson was “at her lowest ebb” at the time of the offence, on 7 April.
After her husband called the police to tell them he suspected she had been drink-driving, officers found Richardson’s grey Audi parked outside St John’s Inn that afternoon.
St Helier Centenier Paul Huelin told the court: “She was slurring her words, she was unsteady on her feet, her eyes were glazed and unfocused and she smelt strongly of alcohol.”
He added that she refused to provide a breath sample when asked.
Advocate George Pearce, defending, said that she was at her “lowest ebb” due to family reasons.
He added: “There is no evidence of any unsafe driving. Mrs Richardson was not involved in an accident.
“She is genuinely remorseful. The risk of reconviction has been assessed as low.”
Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu told her: “This was a very dangerous situation. Not only could you have caused harm to yourself, but harm to others.”
Richardson must retake and pass a driving test after her ban has lapsed.
