A DRINK-DRIVER was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when she was caught on the A49 in Hereford.

Claire Beverley-Smith, from Station Close in Newnham Bridge, near Tenbury Wells, was behind the wheel of a Kia Sorento that had stopped in a layby after swerving off the road on January 27. 

Police attended and carried out a roadside breath test, which she failed. 

The 50-year-old was taken to Hereford police station, where an evidential test showed she had 101 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

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Mitigating, Marilena Di Vitantonio said her client, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, had been to a party with her partner earlier in the evening. 

"Her partner went to bed and she felt the need to leave," said Ms Di Vitantonio.

"She couldn't give a reason why. She swerved to avoid what she believed was an animal, hit a kerb and pulled up in a layby.

"She is remorseful for her actions and is quite surprised that she felt she was ok to drive on that evening. Clearly a disqualification will follow, and Miss Beverley-Smith is aware of that.

"The roadside reading was 87mcg and the evidential test was 101. But she didn't consume any alcohol between the tests."

Beverley-Smith was disqualified from driving for 23 months, which will be reduced if she successfully completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course. 

She was also fined £576 and told to pay court costs of £135 and a government surcharge of £230 respectively.