A WOMAN has been disqualified from driving for 12 months after she was caught drink driving on a main Herefordshire road.

Azaria Azzopardi, of Bronte Drive, Ledbury, appeared before magistrates in Hereford and pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. 

Prosecutor Melanie Winterflood told the court that, at 3.30am on Saturday, March 11, police officers' attention was drawn to a car driven by Azzopardi on the A438 near Lugwardine because of how close it was behind them.

RELATED NEWS:

"They were unable to see the headlights," said Miss Winterflood.

"Officers continued to drive on the A438 and the speed limit went from 30mph to the national speed limit. At this point, the car being driven accelerated past the police car and completely overtook it.

"Officers sounded the horn and indicated that the car should stop. She was spoken too and told she might have been drinking.

OTHER NEWS:

"There was a positive reading and she was arrested and cautioned."

Azzopardi was found to have 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. 

In defence, George Cousins said that his client admitted she had been drinking and was over the limit. He explained that Azzopardi had moved to Ledbury after three years in Malta and is looking for employment.

Azzopardi was also fined £120, as well as ordered pay court costs of £135 and a government surcharge of £48.