A HEALTH worker who was more than twice the legal limit for alcohol told the court she thought she'd be okay to drive.

Lesley Anne Holder, 50, was driving along Swindale Lane in Bampton shortly after 1am on September 15 when she was noticed by police officers.

Outlining the prosecution case, Adrian Hollamby said: "At 1.15am police on patrol in the area driving along Swindale Lane when the car came to the attention of officers as it had an expired tax disk.

"It indicated for the vehicle to pull over. It did drive a bit, but then stopped.

"She was asked if she'd had a drink, she said 'yeah, a couple of shandies".

"She cooperated with police."

She pleaded guilty to the charge before Carlisle's magistrates' court on Tuesday.

Deciding to represent herself, Holder - of Bampton, which is south of Penrith - was asked if she had anything she wanted to say.

"Only that I'm really sorry," she replied.

"I have never drunk and drove before and I will never again. I didn't stop straight away because there were no laybys.

"I did stop as soon as I could."

Holder is not a regular drinker, she said to the court.

"I don't drink very often and thought I would be okay.

"I wasn't drunk, but obviously I was over the limit."

She told the court how she'd worked in radiography departments in Carlisle and Penrith, running the department of the latter for 20 years.

Appearing in court wearing a blue blouse, black shoes and dark trousers, Holder added that she was "very sorry".

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Roger Birkett said to Holder: "For this you will be fined."

Holder was fined £184, was ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

She was also told to take part in a rehabilitation course and was banned from driving for 17 months.