A PENSIONER crashed into another car and had a near miss with a cyclist after drinking during an evening out.

Jacqueline Knipe admitted drink-driving when she appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a crash and a Land Rover failing to stop in Hampton Bishop's Rectory Road at 10pm on March 15, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

The witnesses, who followed Land Rover driver Knipe to her home, said she had been "all over the road", driving on the verge, narrowly missing a cyclist, and hitting the front end of their car, causing damage.

Police arrived at Knipe's home, where after initially being refused entry by her 'irate' husband, they found an intoxicated-looking Knipe lying on the sofa.

In a police interview, Knipe said she had had been out that evening and had drunk one glass of wine at the start of the event but could not remember how much she had drunk during the meal and did not remember the crash.

An evidential breath test revealed she had 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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Mr Thomas, for Knipe, said the 72-year-old was mortified to be in court.

"She accepts full responsibility for what happened and she is devastated that her good character has come to an end at this afternoon's hearing," he said.

"She has no recollection of drinking the amount that would account for that reading. She did feel ill that evening, but did not receive medical treatment. She is not a frequent drinker."

The court heard that Knipe suffers from MS and arthritis, and is very reliant on her car, while her husband also relies on her for transport.

"She lives in a semi-rural location and is going to suffer as a consequence of this," Mr Thomas said.

"They have grave concerns as to what the impact will be on their daily lives."

Knipe, of Rectory Road, Hampton Bishop, was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £562. She must also pay costs of £135 and a £56 victim surcharge.