A WOMAN has been banned from the roads after being caught drink driving in Salisbury.

Amelia Chamberlain, of West Mills Road, Fordingbridge, admitted driving a motor vehicle when her alcohol level was above the limit and using a vehicle without third party insurance.

The 22-year-old appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13.

The court heard that on Thursday, February 13 at 11pm police officers on patrol in the city saw a vehicle, which was being driven by the defendant, stationary near the Bourne Way roundabout on Southampton Road, try to reverse and stall.

Officers then spoke to her and smelt “intoxicating liqueur”. A positive reading was given and Chamberlain was subsequently arrested. Her reading was 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The court heard she was of “previous good character”.

Defending Chamberlain, Richard Griffiths said she had insurance for her own car but was not insured to drive the Peugeot 206 in this case.

He said it was late at night and the defendant’s car had a broken head lamp. She had discussed how she would get home and agreed with the owner of the Peugeot car that she could drive that vehicle.

Mr Griffiths said she had discussed insurance and thought she would be covered by third party insurance, adding: “She was wrong. It isn’t a case of taking the risk, it is a case actually of misunderstanding the small print of the policy of insurance.”

In relation to the drink drive offence, he added: “She is not a large person and well under nine stone and of course had two glasses of wine. That would probably mean an individual of my shape would not have been over the limit but a girl of Amelia’s size and weight it does.”

He asked the court to take this into account when sentencing the defendant.

The court also heard that Chamberlain had previously been studying for a masters degree at Cardiff University but had decided not to continue with the course and was looking for work.

She was ordered to pay £297 in fines and court costs. She was also disqualified from driving for 17 months but will be able to reduce this by completing the drink driver rehabilitation course.