POLICE chiefs have issued a warning about the potentially catastrophic consequences of drink driving as the county’s jubilee weekend continues.

Though such warnings more typically accompany the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, the unusually long bank holiday marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are likely to see a surge in alcohol consumption.

With this in mind, police are warning motorists to avoid mixing drinking and driving. All offenders face a mandatory ban of at least one year – or three years if they have committed a similar offence within a ten year period.

There are often also fines and court costs running into hundreds of pounds and in the worst cases defendants can even be jailed. Many - especially those living in rural areas - lose their job.

In recent months, courts across the county have seen the following examples of people whose lives are being severely disrupted after they were prosecuted for drink driving or failing to provide a breath or blood specimen:

* American law professor Daniel Behn, 47, was caught drink driving as he was about to drive away from the Asda supermarket at Kingstown, Carlisle, of February 20. He was stopped by a public-spirited security guard. The academic, of Chadwell Lane, London, who teaches law at Queen Mary University of London, had 101mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath (the legal limit is 35mcg). He was given 300 hours unpaid work, 30 days of rehabilitation, and a 28-month ban.

* Anoushka Chisholm, 45, of Haydock Drive, Carlisle, was convicted of drink driving and failing to stop after an accident. When she committed the offence on Durdar Road last December, she had almost four times the legal limit of alcohol in her system. She had been involved in an accident on Goodwood Drive. Magistrates imposed three months jail, suspended for a year and a 36 month driving ban.

* Accountant Alice Kean, 32, of Runnerstone Court, Carlisle, blamed “panic” when she failed to provide a second breath sample when asked to by the police. She admitted the offence on the day she was due to face a trial. Alerted by her “erratic driving” on Victoria Road, Carlisle, police administered an initial breath test which produced a result of 82mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath. She was banned for three years and given a £275 fine, with £150 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

* Motorist Mackenzie Ormandy, 18, was arrested on April 16 after she approached a person in Central Avenue, Harraby, to ask for directions. The person involved contacted the police after smelling alcohol on the teenager’s breath. The defendant had 71mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath. Magistrates imposed a £120 fine, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. They banned Ormandy, of Leyland Lane, Leyland, Lancashire, for 20 months.

* An 18-month ban was handed to Sebergham man Derek Holliday, 55, who committed his offence on April 23 as he drove on the B5305 at Sebergham, south east of Wigton. He had 64mcg of alcohol in every 100mls of breath. He was also fined £200 and ordered him to pay £85 with a £34 victim surcharge.

* Residential care worker Sharyn Smith, 46, of High Crosby, learned she had lost her job in the aftermath of her an offence on March 25. Police spotted her driving a BMW 420 at 'high speed' on Georgian Way towards Spencer Street, Carlisle. She had almost twice the legal limit for alcohol in her breath, having had previous drink-driving convictions dating back to both 2005 and 2010. She said she was on a “mission of mercy,” trying to find a boy  who was 'on the run' from the care authorities and his parents. She was fined £120, with costs, and banned for 14 months.

* Jody Cassidy, 41, of Borland Avenue, Botcherby, Carlisle, was more than four times the drink drive limit when she was caught driving on Montgomery Way in Carlisle on January 19. She had 146mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath. Magistrates imposed a three-month jail term, suspended for a year. The defendant given a 36-month driving ban and ten rehabilitation activity days.