Stowmarket VW drink-driver, 55, jailed for being nearly four times limit while banned

Drink-driver Elizabeth Cox (Image: Archant)

Elizabeth Cox, of Ward Green, Old Newton, near Stowmarket, was given a 12-week prison term at her sentencing at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich.

Cox had previously been given an 18-month ban in December following a crash.

Following her latest offence Cox was arrested shortly after 7pm on April 26.

A member of the public, who knew she was disqualified from driving, had seen her leave her home and get into a VW Passat before setting off.

She subsequently returned home, but police had been called in the meantime.

When officers arrived Cox was said to have been unsteady on her feet, her speech was slurred, and alcohol could be smelled on her breath.

A roadside breath test indicated a positive reading.

A subsequent test at a police investigation centre showed Cox had 138 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Cox pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to driving a vehicle when her alcohol level was above the limit. She also admitted driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

She had previously been banned from the road on December 1 last year.

Her offence on that occasion had occurred on August 17.

Police were called to an two-vehicle accident in East Bergholt which Cox was involved in.

She was later found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

At Cox’s latest sentencing, in addition to her prison term, she was also disqualified from driving for 42 months.

Cox was also ordered to pay £115 to the victims’ fund.