Morning drink ends in disaster

DRINK driver Julie Feetham, who was almost three times over the drink-drive limit in the middle of the afternoon, careered off the road, crashed through a safety barrier and into a ditch. When emergency services came to her rescue she became obstructive,

DRINK driver Julie Feetham, who was almost three times over the drink-drive limit in the middle of the afternoon, careered off the road, crashed through a safety barrier and into a ditch.

When emergency services came to her rescue she became obstructive, refusing to get up off the road and had to be lifted by a paramedic.

She also initially refused to give a specimen off breath after the accident on Grunty Fen Road in Ely at 3.30pm on Tuesday, May 1, Ely Magistrates heard.

Feetham, 41, of Akeman Close, Stretham, was taken to Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital after complaining of back pain.

When interviewed by police she told them she had had a drink earlier in the morning because she thought it would make her back better.

The accident had also happened on the 17th anniversary of her father's death, she said.

Tests showed that Feetham had 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath - the limit is 35 microgrammes.

Mother-of-three Feetham, who works for a haulage company, admitted driving with excess alcohol when she appeared before magistrates on Thursday.

She told the court she had drunk vodka and grapefruit, and said: "My back was killing me and I had taken loads of pain killers. I thought the drink might numb it. I had a couple of drinks the night before because my back was hurting.

"This was so stupid. I never drink and drive. I have just wrecked my life. I have been beating myself up about it since it happened."

Feetham was disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work and pay £95 costs.