A RANGE Rover driver who had been reported to police because of her ‘erratic’ driving along the A59 near Skipton was almost twice the alcohol limit, heard magistrates.

Macey Bluebell Bratton, 27, who lives in London, told the Skipton court she was ‘really, really sorry’, had never been in trouble before but that she had been going through a bad patch at the time.

The court heard today (Friday) that police had been alerted to a vehicle being driven erratically along the A59 heading towards Skipton at about11pm on December 20.

Officers saw the Range Rover negotiate the Bolton Abbey roundabout and take the B6160 where it mounted the kerb, the court heard. 50 metres along the road, a tyre also came off one of the wheels of the vehicle.

Bratton was stopped, she was the only person in the vehicle, she appeared unsteady on her feet and smelt of alcohol. She also said she believed there was an ‘issue with the vehicle’.

After providing a positive road side test, she was taken to Harrogate police station where she at first carried out a breath test and then provided a blood sample because the breathalyser was not working correctly.

She had 155 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Bratton, of Alexandra Court, Bayswater, who admitted drink driving, was of previous good character, the court heard.

She said she had immediately sold her car and realised she could have killed herself and caused more damage. “Luckily, no one got hurt. I will really not do anything like that again,” she told the court, speaking on a video link from London.

She was banned from driving for 20 months, fined £307, with costs of £85 and a surcharge of £34. If she completes a drink driver rehabilitation course, her ban will be reduced by 20 weeks.