Heroin addict gets curfew order

By Amanda Cresswell

A FORMER Suffolk heroin addict who lied to police to get her boyfriend off a drink driving charge has been given a four-month curfew order by magistrates.

University student Sara King admitted obstructing police after the vehicle, driven by her boyfriend, Paul Andrews, hit a bollard and ploughed into a brick wall.

Prosecutor Patricia Doggitt, said: "The driver reversed and parked outside and address…King said she was driving the car. She was also arrested on a drink driving charge."

Mother of four King – who had hidden in the boot of the car during the journey home – was bailed to return to the police station where she admitted she wasn't the driver.

Her boyfriend Andrews later received a custodial sentence after he was charged with drink driving, driving whilst disqualified and not having insurance.

Hugh Rowland, mitigating, told the court King, of Wickham Market High Street, had driven part of the way home that night.

The 33-year-old drove about 200 yards home before rowing with her boyfriend.

"She stopped the car and stormed off. Then she did a bizarre thing," said Rowland.

"She hid in the boot under a blanket. When her boyfriend couldn't find he drove the car home.

"He was a disqualified driver and also was over the limit…King accepted that she told a lie"

Rowland told the court that King had had a "roller coaster" ride throughout her life.

Nineteen years back she was addicted to heroin which lasted nine or ten years. "Her life was a mess," said Rowland.

He described how King slowly began to put her life back on track and has now completed two years of a university degree course in psychology in London.

Magistrates in summing up told King: "You have made great efforts to rehabilitate yourself from your drug addiction which we find a mitigating factor."

She was given a four month curfew order, which means that she must be at her home address between 7 pm and 7 am and must wear an electronic tagging device.