A MOTHER was caught drink-driving as she went to collect medicine for her young child, a court heard.

Police stopped Marina Tzirki, 29, on College Road on April 8 when they noticed she was not wearing a seatbelt.

Tzirki, of Kingsway, Hereford, admitted to drink-driving at a hearing at Hereford Magistrates court last week.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said police could smell alcohol on her breath and she confirmed she had been drinking wine earlier that evening.

A breath test gave a reading of 53mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Matt Lewis, defending, said Tzirki had not been in court before and was never likely to be again.

She had been at home with her partner and very young child who was in bed but was unwell.

Her child was not sleeping or settling so she decided to drive to a friend’s, who lived nearby, to get some Calpol.

She was subsequently spotted by police.

Magistrates disqualified Tzirki from driving for 16 months and imposed a total financial penalty of £250.