A SCHOOL governor has admitted being more than three times the limit for drink-driving when she hit a pedestrian with her car in Ipswich.Sarah Adams, 45, of Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, hit David McLoughlin in the Ipswich Borough Council car park at West End Road, Ipswich.

A SCHOOL governor has admitted being more than three times the limit for drink-driving when she hit a pedestrian with her car in Ipswich.

Sarah Adams, 45, of Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, hit David McLoughlin in the Ipswich Borough Council car park at West End Road, Ipswich.

The Castle Hill Infant School governor is the first person to be highlighted in The Evening Star's name and shame campaign which highlights drink drivers throughout the Christmas period.

Prosecuting, Gareth Davies told South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court that after the collision at around 5.30pm on November 20, Adams had driven on before stopping at a nearby junction.

Mr McLoughlin was with a group of friends, who ran after the red Nissan Micra and banged on the window to get her to stop.

The police were called and when interviewed, Adams admitted she had been drinking Champagne at a function in London, before taking the train back to Ipswich and consuming more wine on the journey.

He said: “Fortunately Mr McLoughlin suffered only minor injuries, grazing to his knuckles and injuring his leg.

“When police arrived they smelt alcohol on her breath and she immediately admitted that she had been drinking all day.”

She gave a breath sample which showed a reading of 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath - more than three times the limit of 35 micrograms in 100 ml of breath.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene for minor injuries and shock.

Mr Davies said that when Adams had left for the business function she had not known alcoholic drinks would be served, or she would not have driven from her home into Ipswich to catch the train.

He added: “For reasons that she can't explain, when she returned to the town instead of getting a taxi or a bus she returned to her car and drove off.”

He said Adams' reasons for not stopping immediately were that she was 'shocked, fatigued and under the influence'.

In defence of Adams, a mother of two children, Ian Duckworth said: “She was extremely distressed and concerned for the gentleman. This is a day that she would rather forget.”

He said that Adams, a business coach and events manager, is a 'successful lady, a school governor and chairman of a school parents and teachers association'.

He said: “There is no rhyme or reason why she behaved in the way she did.”

Presiding magistrate Bunty Hunt adjourned sentencing until December 28 for pre-sentence reports, releasing Adams on unconditional bail and issuing her with an interim ban on driving.

She warned her that she faced a substantial community sentence and a lengthy period of disqualification.

Has your life been affected by the actions of a drunk driver? Call the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk