A WOMAN who thought she was sober enough to drive has appeared in court for drink driving.

Jacqueline Bland, 49, was stopped by officers who spotted her car swerving from side to side on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland, on September 11, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard today.

A breath test revealed she had 67mg of alcohol in her breath - almost double the drink drive limit.

Bland, of Raby Gardens, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to the offence in court.

In mitigation, magistrates heard that she had been out for a meal with her partner and they intended to get a bus home but it never came.

Thinking that her meal had mitigated the effects of the wine she had drank, Bland decided to drive them home instead, the court heard.

Magistrates banned her from driving for 17-months and ordered her to pay a total of £265 in court fines and charges.