A WOMAN driving home smashed into two parked cars after drinking double the legal amount of alcohol.

Bolton magistrates heard how Rebekah Lomax decided to drive on the evening of January 19 after becoming upset while at a friend’s house.

Nicola Yeadon, prosecuting, told how a man was driving in the opposite direction to Lomax’s Toyota Yaris on Belmont Road.

“He described that she appeared to swerve in the road before then hitting a parked vehicle which knocked into another parked vehicle and spun and collided with his,” she said. “Miss Lomax gave her details to the other driver before getting back into her vehicle and trying to start it but was unable to do so.”

Police were called and Lomax, 24, of Grantchester Way, Breightmet, was arrested.

Mrs Yeadon said Lomax was initially obstructive but then, at the police station, complied with a breath test which showed she had 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

When questioned, Lomax said she had been at a friend’s house and drunk four cans of lager and shared a bottle of wine. “She admitted driving the vehicle. She said she had hit something with her tyre which caused her to lose control and then collide with the parked cars,” said Mrs Yeadon.

Lomax claimed she had got back into the car to move it out of the way rather than to drive off.

The court heard that Lomax was of previous good character, and she admitted drink-driving.

Martin Pizzey, defending, said Lomax had been struggling with her mental health following the breakdown of a long-term relationship.

“On the day in question she began feeling upset and vulnerable and felt a longing to get home,” he said.

“She made the terrible decision to drive. Within a minute she suffered the problem with the tyre that resulted in the collision.”

It is understood that Lomax works for a law firm.

“The employer is saying, that to be cautious, they might have to report it to the regulatory bodies and they do not know if they can keep her job open,” said Mr Pizzey.

He added that Lomax, who was fully insured, has reflected on the seriousness of the offence. “She is unlikely to cause any trouble again in the future,” he said.

Magistrates banned Lomax from driving for 18 months, fined her £300 and ordered her to pay £117 in costs and charges.