TWO women, one of them a Suffolk school teacher are today banned from the roads after getting behind the wheel drunk following rows with their boyfriends.

Helen Skene

TWO women, one of them a Suffolk school teacher are today banned from the roads after getting behind the wheel drunk following rows with their boyfriends.

Karen Etty of Ravenswood Avenue, Ipswich was three times the limit when she decided to drive home, narrowly escaping head-on collisions as she swerved across the road before finally pulling into a car park because she felt unwell.

And primary school teacher Olivia Neal of Hall Farm Close, Melton was more than twice the limit when police spotted her driving along a Woodbridge street at 1.15am on February 16.

The Holbrook Primary School teacher came to the attention of the police because of her speed, magistrates sitting in Ipswich were told yesterday.

In the case of Etty, magistrates heard how the 26-year-old had drunk four gins and a glass of wine before getting behind the wheel and had been left shocked and shamed by her actions.

She had 105 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath and pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Etty had told police she and her boyfriend had been going for a special meal but he had felt unwell and wanted to go home.

She said: “Me and my boyfriend were having an argument, he decided he wanted to go home. I didn't feel great driving so I turned into the car park and decided to walk home.

“I'm extremely sorry it was completely out of character.”

Magistrates disqualified her from driving for 28 months, fined her £250 and told her to pay £80 costs.

In the case of Neal, magistrates heard how the former Woodbridge School pupil had been out with her boyfriend but had become separated from him after a row.

Diana Infanti, mitigating said: “She decided to walk home to Melton.

“But when she got home her boyfriend wasn't there and was not answering his mobile phone either. She was quite distressed.”

She said Neal's mother was ill and this had added to her stress so she decided to drive to her mother's in Woodbridge.

Miss Infanti added: “She is aware this is not the way to behave and wants to set a good example to the children she teaches. She is extremely sorry.”

Neal had told police who spoke to her after she had stopped that she had had a glass of wine earlier that evening and a drink in a pub “a little while ago.”

Magistrates disqualified Neal from driving for 20 months, fined her £200 and told her to pay £80 costs.

Holbrook Primary School headteacher, Annie Hookway, said she would not comment on the case.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: “We were aware of the incident and understand that it took place during half term. Of course, we do not condone such behaviour in any way.”

Both women were offered the drink drivers rehabilitation course to reduce their bans.