A ‘GOOD samaritan’ found herself on the wrong side of the law after she gave a friend a lift, a court has heard.

Maria Jesus Fernandez was caught drink-driving after police were called to reports of a dispute at a house in Little Hereford.

The 27-year-old admitted the offence when she appeared at Hereford Magistrates Court.

Fernandez, who had driven from her home in Kyreside, Tenbury Wells, was taken to Hereford police station after failing a breath test at the scene, where a test showed she had 52 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, said prosecutor Emily Clewer.

The legal limit is 35.

Chris Read, mitigating, said the incident had taken place in the early hours of the morning, after Fernandez received a call from a friend who begged her to give them a lift to Little Hereford.

Fernandez, who had earlier had a drink at home, agreed to help her friend out, Mr Read said.

“But the police were called after a dispute between her friend and the homeowner, and there she was,” he said.

“She was asked if she had driven there, and she said yes. She had not had any intention of driving, and normally would have gone to bed, but unfortunately, by being a good samaritan, she has ended up in court.”

Fernandez was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She was also ordered to pay costs of £130 and a £30 victim surcharge.