AN Ellesmere Port disqualified driver who reversed into a car at a petrol station while over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced.

Marie Williams, 35, of Overpool Road, had previously pleaded guilty to a total of four charges when she appeared at Chester Magistrates Court.

She admitted failing to stop following an accident at the Texaco petrol station, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and driving while nearly three times the drink-drive limit.

Appearing back at the magistrates court to be sentenced on Friday, June 17, Williams was handed a 12-month community order, ordered to pay compensation, and banned from driving for 30 months.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said it was at about 12.20am on May 1 when a man who was at the Texaco service station, parked up by a petrol pump, when he saw a Toyota vehicle in front reversing.

He tried to reverse his Mercedes to give the car in front some more room, but the Toyota continued to reverse "at speed" and collided with the man's car.

The man exited his car to speak to the Toyota driver – who was Williams – but she drove off.

Police later saw the car on Station Road and an officer asked her to stop. The officer could smell intoxicants and Williams admitted she did not have a driver's licence or insurance.

Williams gave a reading of 95 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – nearly three times the legal limit.

Williams had a previous conviction for dangerous driving in 2006, for which she received a 15-month driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended retest to get the licence back.

Williams had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

In Williams's defence, the court heard she expressed genuine remorse for what had happened.

She had been with a friend who was more intoxicated and made "the foolish decision" to drive instead.

The defendant had had lessons to get her driving licence back, but had failed a test in February so did not have a valid licence at the time of the offending.

She was employed at a firm which required her to travel across the country, which she did via public transport.

Williams had not drank alcohol since the offending, and she understood the seriousness of what she had done.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders, sentencing, said: "I have no idea why you were driving that night. You had not passed your tests. You knew you should not have been driving.

"The good news is you have pleaded guilty and there is a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation without going to custody."

As part of the 12-month community order, Williams must complete 200 hours unpaid work.

As well as the 30-month driving ban, Williams must pay £350 compensation to the driver of the vehicle damaged at the petrol station, plus a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.