Drink driver nan was 4x over limit and on way to buy more booze when cops stopped her

A 47-year-old grandmother from Blyth, Northumberland, who was nearly four times the legal limit when she drove her Mini Cooper to get more alcohol has avoided a prison sentence

A drink-driving nan who was almost four times the legal limit was stopped by police on her way to buy more alcohol.

Strangers took Tracey Craig's keys to her Mini Cooper after seeing her behind the wheel and become worried about how intoxicated she was. They then rang police who arrived swiftly at the scene in Blyth, Northumberland, and conducted a roadside breath test.

The 47-year-old failed it after giving a reading of 128mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is only 35mcg. When questioned by police the grandmother admitted she had downed several vodka and cokes before driving to her local shop to get some more alcoholic drinks.

Craig, of Edendale Court, in Blyth, was handed a six-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months. She also received a ban from driving for three years after admitting to driving with excess alcohol.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson told South East North Magistrates' Court how members of the public rang police at around 6.40pm on October 20. Later on, officers attended Weardale avenue where they found the middle-aged woman in the back of another person's car.

He added: "She blows well over the limit on the roadside test. The reading is a very high one, 128mcg in breath. The reading actually takes you above the custodial threshold.

"She accepts driving the vehicle and being over the limit. She said a member of public took her keys from her to prevent her from driving further."

The court heard that Craig, who has no past convictions, had been driving to the shop in order to buy more vodka when she was stopped. Graham Crouth, defending, said Craig now admitted she had a problem with alcohol.

Mr Crouth added: "She's had a difficult life. At the time of this offence, she was drinking a bottle of vodka a day." Magistrates also ordered Craig yo do 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay a total of £239 in costs and a victim surcharge."