A Suffolk woman’s dreams of a career with the Metropolitan Police are in tatters after she admitted drink-driving.

Rebecca Mears, of Medway Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to the charged when she appeared before the town’s South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

The 28-year-old was stopped by police in Grimwade Street, Ipswich, at 12.55am on May 10

Prosecutor Wayne Ablitt said officers had described her manner of driving as erratic.

Her silver Citroen Xsara almost hit a traffic island.

The vehicle was also was seen drifting towards the kerb on several occasions.

A roadside breath test indicated a positive alcohol reading.

A a further breath test on an intoximeter at a police investigation centre showed Mears had 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

The court was told Mears had no previous convictions.

A tearful and apologetic Mears, who represented herself in court, said she had found out a friend had died and had not taken the news well.

At the time of the offence another friend of hers needed a lift from Ipswich and she did want them to be stranded in town.

Mears said: “I was trying to do something good. It is not in my character (to drink-drive).

“I have just got to the end of my application for the Metropolitan Police, so I’ve lost everything.”

She added her brother had died as a result of being killed by a driver, so she was aware of the potential consequences of her actions.

The magistrates disqualified Mears from driving for 12 months.

She was also fined £240 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85.

In addition Mears was told she must pay £24 to the victims’ fund and a criminal courts charge of £150.