A single mother-of-two has been left 'mortified' after making a 'foolish decision' to drink-drive in the West Midlands, a Birmingham court has heard. Helen Dickens, of Copcut, Droitwich Spa, was well over the legal alcohol limit when she collided with a HGV lorry on Alcester Road last November.
The 43-year-old, who works in public services and 'may lose her job' due to the conviction, suffered a broken arm during the crash. Fortunately, no one else was injured. Dickens, a single mum, now faces a 40-minute walk for the school run after being banned from driving for a year at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
Court details
Dickens pleaded guilty to driving while the alcohol level was above the limit at her sentencing on Tuesday, June 2. Prosecuting, Ms Begum said: 'On Saturday, November 29 last year, police received a call, officers attended and located a collision. The car was found mounted on the pavement. The defendant was in the driver's side. A HGV vehicle was involved, with a biogas tank ruptured. The defendant smelt of alcohol and complained of arm pain.'
She was taken to hospital where a sample was obtained. She was found to have 122mg within 100ml blood, the limit being 80mg. Mitigating, her solicitor argued that her children's lives will now be made 'somewhat more difficult' by her disqualification.
Mitigation and impact
Her solicitor said: 'She feels mortified this has happened. She's not usually a drinker; that night she made a foolish decision that she deeply regrets. She is a single mother to two children, 13 and 10. In between her parental responsibilities, she works as head of change and development in public services. As a single mother, there is not really anyone else to take her children to school; she will have to resort to walking 40 minutes to take them to school, or ask friends to help. For a length of up to 16 months disqualification, the children's lives will be made somewhat more difficult by the punishment.'
He added: 'As part of her job role, she needs to go to major government facilities. The existence of this criminal conviction is going to lead to substantial difficulties at her job, and she may even lose that job. She has up to £4,100 a month outgoings. She will be seeking other employment immediately to provide for her children. She has accepted full responsibility and is prepared to do whatever she can to continue with her own responsibilities.'
The court heard that Dickens has no previous convictions, a clean driving licence, and was of 'good character' before the offence. Her solicitor added: 'The only individual hurt was Ms Dickens herself. She broke her arm as a result of this.'
Aggravating and mitigating factors
The offence was said to have been aggravated by the fact there was a collision and there was a passenger in her car at the time. Her remorse and the fact she is the 'primary carer of dependent children' were deemed mitigating factors. Dickens was told to pay the court a total of £1,485, including a £1,000 fine. 'If you do not pay, you will get bailiffs knocking at your door,' the chair of the Magistrates' told her. She was also told the 12-month driving ban can be reduced to nine months, should she complete a drink-drive course.
