Drinking home-brewed mulled wine has led to an Ipswich motorist losing her licence due to drink-driving.

Jody Townsend, of Downside Close, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to driving with excess alcohol.

The 26-year-old admitted having 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said the incident began at 1.30am on January 7 when a police sergeant in Downside Close saw Townsend, who he knew, in a red Vauxhall Corsa.

He followed the car into Stoke Park Drive, Heatherhayes and Broomhayes before losing track of it.

At 1.55am he was asked to attend Downside Close by another officer who had stopped the Corsa.

The court heard Townsend told police she had consumed some mulled wine she had got for Christmas when she had originally returned home. She had not eaten and then went out again.

Townsend, representing herself, said: “I’m really sorry.

“I do need my licence as I’m a carer.

“That day I was at a funeral. My head was all over the place.

“I didn’t think I was over the limit. It was a home-brew.”

Townsend told the court after she had originally returned home she received a call from her brother who was ‘stressed’, so she got in her car and drove.

Magistrates disqualified her from driving for 14 months. Townsend was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs as well as £30 to the victims’ fund.