A POLICE officer with nearly 30 years experience is facing the sack after admitting drink-driving.

PC Christine Thomas was twice the legal limit when breathalysed by colleagues who suspected she had been drinking before her shift.

She admitted she had drunk three cans of cider before driving to work in the Sunderland area on March 27.

The 48-year-old, of Chesterle- Street, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving above the legal alcohol limit when she appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, said: “She was carrying on with her duties when colleagues became concerned about her behaviour and confronted her about her drinking.

“She was arrested and was quite distraught.”

Alan Samuels, mitigating, told the court Thomas had turned to drink following a bitter and lengthy custody battle for her daughter.

He said: “She has sought help and has had counselling and is taking medication that stops her from drinking.

“If she consumes alcohol or products that contain alcohol she will be violently ill.

“I am, sadly, very confident that she will lose her job.

There is every chance she will lose her house on top of everything else.”

Thomas was banned from driving for 16 months, fined £615 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

District Judge Kristina Harrison said: “What a sad case.

Part of me thinks you should be dealt more seriously because you are a serving police officer.

“But I have treated you the same as any other member of the public.

“I am aware that police officers operate under a great deal of stress and strain in our communities.

“This may have contributed to your drinking on the day.

“It is a shame that that the counselling could not have been in place before the matters came to a head.”

Thomas has been suspended since her arrest and Northumbria Police said a misconduct investigation will take place.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “The public quite rightly expect that the officers and staff of Northumbria Police adhere to the highest possible standards of professional conduct.

“Where those standards fall below the required level, we will always take robust action.”