A FEMALE drink-driver in her dressing gown who led police on a cat and mouse car chase while live streaming her actions has been banned from the roads.

Sophie Ross, 23, of Benfleet Avenue in Sunderland, knew she was in trouble when she saw police lights and heard sirens fast approaching.

But, instead of getting out of the Fiat Punto, the unlicensed and uninsured driver led officers on a chase around the streets of Town End and recorded the incident on Snapchat.

When officers finally caught up with her, she became verbally abusive and had to be restrained before being taken in to custody.

When breathalysed, she was found to have 73 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Ross was at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where she pleaded guilty to driving over the legal alcohol limit, driving while uninsured and without a licence and failing to stop.

Her driving bans lasts 22 months and she is subject to 18-month community order with 60 hours unpaid work.

Following the case, Constable Steven Hackett, from Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, said: “Just this week we pledged our support to a road safety campaign launched by the National Police Chief’s Council and it’s incidents like this which show us why it is so important we continue to do this.

“This incident happened near a busy street where people were shopping and going for takeaway food close to Christmas so the outcome could have been very different for members of the public and for Ross.

“We know all too well driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have grave consequences and can cause serious injury and can even kill.

“I hope this case serves as a warning to anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel this Christmas, or any other time of year, after a heavy night out, or a few too many, it’s simply not worth it.

“The best you can expect is to lose your licence and be hauled in front of the courts.”