A WOMAN who crashed into a terraced house causing a gas pipe to burst said she was unable to give a breath sample because she suffers from fibromyalgia. 

Tracey Killip was seen crashing her Mercedes into the property in Westmorland Street in Barrow by one of her neighbours. 

After the crash in the early evening of February 15, police were called and Killip was arrested.

At South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court yesterday, prosecutor Pam Ward said Killip had managed to give a breath sample at the roadside. 

“Police were called to an address in Barrow at 7.50pm following reports the driver of a Mercedes had collided with the address and burst a gas pipe,” she said.

“The defendant told police she had been drink-driving. They conducted a roadside test which provided a reading of 86 microgrammes (of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath).”

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. 

The prosecutor added: “She went on to say ‘I admit what I have done’. She provided one reading at the police station of 77 microgrammes.”

People must provide two samples but Killip refused to give a second.

Mrs Ward added: “She said: ‘I have fibromyalgia, I know it’s a fail, I’m over anyway’.”

Defence solicitor Mike Graham explained Killip, of Westmorland Street, suffered from tiredness and muscle fatigue as a result of her fibromyalgia. 

“She has had an argument with an ex partner and decided to drive the vehicle,” he said. 

“It is an automatic vehicle, she pressed the wrong pedal and things got out of hand. She said because of her fibromyalgia she was tired and had muscle fatigue but she accepts she committed an offence.”

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes widespread pain, extreme tiredness and muscle stiffness.

Killip, 46, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen. 

She was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and must pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. 

She was also disqualified from driving for 24 months.