Mother over limit

1:10pm Monday 31st March 2008

A WOMAN arrested because of the way she was driving was found to be more than three times the legal drink drive limit.

Magistrates heard that Christine Goddard, who had her eight-year-old daughter in the car at the time, claimed she had only got in the car to go for some milk for the child.

Christine Goddard, 41, of Nightingale Close, Calderstones Park, Whalley, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was remanded on bail by Blackburn magistrates for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said a man driving towards Clitheroe found himself behind a blue car which was being driven "all over the carriageway."

He followed the vehicle into Whalley observing its erratic progress. It forced another car to swerve to avoid a collision and eventually stopped after colliding with the kerb, the court heard.

"The driver and his brother got out of their car, went to the driver's side of the other car and removed the keys," said Mr Standage. "When the defendant got out of the car she stumbled backwards and was clearly drunk."

Stephen Barker, defending, said Goddard's child suffered from a condition known as Global Deficiency which meant she was behind in mental and physical development. It also resulted in certain obsessive behaviour.

On the night of the incident the child had got up at 10.30pm and demanded a drink of milk.

"When she has one of these compulsions the child doesn't let go and my client eventually got into the car to drive to Clitheroe for milk," said Mr Barker. "The reading was high and she accepts the offence was aggravated by the presence of the child in the car."

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