Woman Caught Over Drink Drive Limit Outside County Primary School

Woman Caught Over Drink Drive Limit Outside County Primary School

A woman who chose to park on zigzag lines outside Tycroes County Primary School at just before 9am and proved positive for being over the alcohol limit appeared at Llanelli Law Courts today (August 2).

Llinos Belcher, age 45 of Park Fferws in Penybanc who chose to be unrepresented pleaded guilty before the District Judge.

Lisa Jones prosecuting told the court that police officers saw Belcher parked on the zigzag lines outside Tycroes County Primary School in Ammanford early in the morning of July 19 of this year. The officer went to speak with Belcher to ask her to move her vehicle and offer advice on where she should park the BMW. A clear smell of alcohol was apparent on the defendant’s breath and she was asked to provide a roadside breath test which proved positive for alcohol, she was subsequently arrested at just before 9am.

At Ammanford Custody Suite a lower reading of 76 mcg within 100 ml of breath was obtained.
The court heard that there were 5 convictions for 8 offences on Belcher’s record. In 1998 there was a conviction for excess alcohol and in 2006 there were charges for driving without due care and attention plus a failure to stop.

Belcher when asked if she had anything to say in mitigation stated that the District Judge had a letter to read from her and that she extended her apologies further for the offence.

District Judge Christopher James said:
“Drinking excess alcohol and choosing to drive a vehicle puts not only yourself but other road users at risk. You chose to drive when you were twice the legal alcohol limit, it seems from the night before when you had chosen to consume the alcohol.”

He added:
“Even though you’re outside of the ten year bracket, for me this is still an aggravating feature as well as the excess alcohol offence dating back to 1998.”

Belcher was disqualified from driving for a total of 17 months. She was ordered to pay a £300 fine, court costs of £85 plus a victim surcharge of £30. A relevant drink drive awareness course was also offered.