A WOMAN has been banned from driving for 15 months after getting behind the wheel while over the limit out of fear of being followed. 

Hannah-Lucy McGuinness, from Haverigg, appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit. 

The 25-year-old had been drinking throughout the day and was walking to her Main Street home when she had the feeling of being followed. 

She got into her car out of panic and began to drive away before losing control of the vehicle and crashing. 

Mr Andy Travis, prosecuting, said: "In the early hours of May 2 this year, a call was made to the police saying there had been a small motor vehicle collision. 

"Two males stopped to speak to her and she asked them not to call the police and to help her move the car and give her a lift to Millom. 

"They refused and she began to walk off in the direction of Haverigg and the males called the police. 

"She made her way to the Working Men's Club in Haverigg where she had been drinking that afternoon."

Miss McGuinness, who is the mother of two young children, returned to the club and spoke to the manager who contacted the police, who arrived at the club to speak to the defendant. 

She provided a positive breath sample which showed 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35mg. 

Miss Amy Watkin, defending, said: "Miss McGuinness has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and has assisted the police and has been quite frank and open about what happened. 

"She had been drinking at the Working Men's Club and she is also employed at the same place and it was her employer who rung the police."

Miss Watkin continued to explain that the defendant went out on her own to walk the short distance to her mother's house to charge her phone but began to feel anxious when she thought she was being followed.

She said: "Miss McGuinness suffers from anxiety and she thought she was being followed. 

"She has had several threats made against her, she has received text messages and has had her tyres slashed.

"This is a very real feeling and when she felt she was being followed she went into fright or flight mode. 

"Unfortunately she fled but only intended to drive a short distance around the corner just to get away from where she thought she was being followed.

"She is very disappointed in herself and remorseful for her actions."

McGuinness was banned from driving for 15 months and was ordered to pay a fine of £120, victim surcharge of £30 and court costs of £85.

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