A WOMAN’S bid to clear her name over a conviction for attempted drink driving was branded, “a complete and utter waste of time”, by a judge.

The comments were made by Judge Christopher Prince to Alison White, who was convicted of attempting to drive while unfit through drink, by North Durham magistrates, following a trial in November.

It follows her arrest after she was spotted, by police patrol officers, “staggering” across a car park, carrying a bag, apparently containing bottles of alcohol, towards her car from an off-licence in Ritson Street, Stanley, at 8.45pm, on July 12 last year.

When an officer approached the driver's side of her Volkswagen Passat, White tried to place the keys in the ignition, so the constable opened the door and asked her to get out, suspecting she was drunk.

Having failed a breathalyser, she gave a further reading of 126mg of alcohol, compared to the legal limit to drive of 35mg, at a police station.

Following the trial at Consett Magistrates’ Court, on November 5, she was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, with an order that she should undergo a 25-day rehabilitation programme, supervised by the Probation Service.

The magistrates also imposed a 30-month driving disqualification.

But, 42-year-old White, of Murray Park, Stanley, lodged an appeal against both the conviction and sentence.

When the case came before Judge Prince, sitting with two magistrates, at Durham Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday January 20), her barrister, Nicholas Rooke, asked for more time to speak to White.

Judge Prince said the appellant was late arriving for the hearing and Mr Rooke should have been adequately briefed in advance.

He allowed him four more minutes’ consultation, pointing out a day of court time costs the tax-payer £10,000.

Following brief discussion, Mr Rooke told the court that White was now abandoning the appeal against the conviction and only intended to challenge the sentence.

Judge Prince immediately released three police officers who were due to give evidence.

He told Mr Rooke: “Three policemen have had their time completely wasted. They could have been performing their duties on behalf of the public.

“It’s a complete and utter waste of time.”

Rejecting the sentence appeal, Judge Prince said rather than reduce it, there was a stronger argument that it should be increased.

He ordered that the period of suspended sentence should be doubled, to two years, with five days added to the rehabilitation programme.

White was also ordered to meet the £520 cost of the appeal hearing.