A WOMAN who took a car and drove it while above the drug drive limit has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Lynne Bennett, of Barnardiston Road, Colchester, admitted aggravated vehicle taking following the incident on August 13 of last year before driving off on the A120 at Marks Tey.

Police officers reported finding 260 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine – a form of cocaine - in her blood on the day of the offence.

The legal limit for this controlled drug is 50 microgrammes per litre of blood.

The 48-year-old also admitted driving a motor vehicle while above the legal controlled drug limit and driving the same vehicle without a licence or third party insurance when she appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

Bennett caused damage to the car at a cost known to be less than £5,000 and was ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services and court costs amounting to a total of £273.

However, Bennett avoided an immediate prison sentence as magistrates sentenced her to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year.

She has been disqualified from driving for three years.