A FELIXSTOWE mother took her friend's car and crashed it while she was drunk, a court heard.

A FELIXSTOWE mother took her friend's car and crashed it while she was drunk, a court heard.

Anti-drink driver Louise Askins got into the driver's seat of Lisa Fuller's Vauxhall Corsa and drove it into a garden wall in High Street, Trimley.

The 31-year-old mother of three was nearly three times the legal drink drive limit with 96 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit being 35 micrograms.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard that Askins, who was self-employed in marketing, had been out drinking with friends on September 17 when Miss Fuller gave her and another friend a lift home.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said when one friend was dropped off Askins got into the driver's seat and drove off leaving Miss Fuller stranded.

Ms Small said Askins, of St Martins Green, Trimley St Martin, was “upset and shocked” when the police found her near the damaged car and wall. When asked how drunk she was, if one was sober and 10 were very drunk, she replied 12.

Askins pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.

Diana Infanti, mitigating, said Askins was “very against drink driving” and was “sorry for what happened”. She said her client had no recollection of driving the car.

District Judge David Cooper fined Askins £865, told her to pay £75 costs and £300 compensation to Miss Fuller.

Askins was disqualified from driving for 24 months but was told the ban could be reduced if she took a Drink Drivers Rehabilitation Course.