A CHEF at a leisure centre cafe in Dalton has been banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to driving while over the legal drink-drive limit.

Dawn Newby, 55, of Brookvale, Swarthmoor, who works at High Tide Cafe in Dalton leisure centre, was stopped on Friday September 16 shortly after 8pm in Nelson Street after police received information that Newby's breath smelt of alcohol.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, told Furness Magistrates' Court that Newby was breathalysed by police and measured at 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath with 35 being the limit.

He also told the court that Newby has one previous conviction in 2014 after failing to stop following an accident. She was also charged with drink-driving for this incident and was banned from driving for 20 months

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, said: "She is thoroughly ashamed at herself for being back before the court for a similar offence.

"She had had a relatively small amount of drink. She didn't feel under the influence and this does fall under the lowest bracket in terms of sentencing guidelines.

"She had been having some difficulties at home prior to the event and she has sought advice for these. She does have an income but what comes in goes out so there are some difficulties in that respect."

Presiding magistrate Mrs Catherine Alexander credited the early guilty plea but still disqualified Newby from driving for three years.

She was also ordered to pay a fine of £300, prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Newby had already been on a drink-drive rehabilitation course following her previous conviction so Mrs Alexander decided not to offer it the defendant again citing that it "had not appeared to help her".