A SOCIAL care student who decided to drive her partner home after a night on the town because he was too drunk to get behind the wheel has been sentenced for drink driving.

Ana Morais, 42, had been on a night out last month before she was seen driving on the A12 at speeds ranging from 20mph to 80mph with no lights on.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday how Morais, who is studying social care and social work, was spotted by an ambulance crew who saw her nearly crash her partner’s Audi A4 into the central barrier.

Stopped – an ambulance crew spotted Ana Morais driving erraticallyStopped – an ambulance crew spotted Ana Morais driving erratically (Image: Newsquest) They followed her and a member of the crew later called the police, who arrived and gave Morais a breathalyser which found she had 52mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

As she was arrested, Morais told police, “I know I done wrong” and said she drove the two home because her partner “was too wavey”.

Serena Berry, prosecuting, added Morais did not have insurance for the car because it belonged to her partner, and had previous convictions of careless driving and failing to provide details to emergency services after an accident.

The defendant admitted one charge each of drink driving and driving without insurance.

Evelyn Hicks, mitigating, said Morais had drunk two wine and tonics and felt she was in a better state to drive home than her partner.

She said: “At the end of the evening she took the decision, wrongly, to drive the car because she felt her partner was too intoxicated to drive.

“In relation to her personal mitigation, she is a student studying social care and social work.

“This may have an effect on her career because, on placements, they don’t want anyone with any form of convictions – driving or otherwise.

Sentenced – Ana Morais was banned from driving for 16 monthsSentenced – Ana Morais was banned from driving for 16 months (Image: Pexels) “She knows it is going to be a disqualification and I would ask you to be as lenient as you possibly can given her circumstances.

“Her mother helps her out a lot because she is a single parent – she has a partner but they don’t live together.”

Magistrates sentenced Morais, of New Farm Road, Stanway, to a 16-month driving disqualification and ordered her to pay £253 in fines and costs.