A HAWARDEN woman with a previously "impeccable" character was more than double the drink-drive limit when stopped in Chester.

Veronica Vout, 54, of Overlea Drive, pleaded guilty to drink-driving her Nissan Qashqai on Sealand Road in the early hours of October 7.

She was fined £1,000 and banned from driving for 22 months at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, October 22.

Prosecuting, Adam Warner said it was 1.50am when police noticed Vout running a red light at the Bumpers Lane junction so stopped her.

Vout claimed she had had two glasses of wine but when breath tested she blew 91 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35.

Defending, Richard Sibeon said: "She is a lady of impeccable character and has worked in the social work field for more than 30 years.

"This appearance is a fall from grace for her – she has let herself down and she has said to me she has let her daughters down."

Vout had gone to visit her sister, who was unwell, had some glasses of wine and had no intention of driving home, Mr Sibeon told the court.

But then Vout became upset about something which she could not remember, and with a background of personal pressures and grief she left the house without telling her sister and made the decision to drive.

Vout was then stopped five minutes later.

Because of her job, Vout also faces disciplinary action, the court heard.

A probation report heard there was a significant amount of mitigation in the case, with Vout at a low risk of reoffending.

Deputy District Judge Andrew Jebb sentenced Vout to the driving ban and offered her the drink-drive offenders course which would cut her ban by 22 weeks.

Vout must also pay a £100 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.