A woman has been banned from the road for three years after she failed twice to give police a breath specimen after being stopped on suspicion of drink-driving.

Donna Pearce, 28, admitted two charges of failing to give specimens and one of failing to stop after an accident when she appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Friday.

David Bryant, prosecuting, said Pearce, of Wrabness Road, Wrabness, was spotted driving a black Rover MG in New Road Mistley on December 7.

He said a taxi driver saw the car hit a parked vehicle, but it didn't stop so he followed it to Dead Lane in Lawford.

Police were called and Pearce was asked to take a breath test, but she refused and was arrested.

She refused to take a test for a second time while at a police station, said Mr Bryant.

Intitially, she claimed a passenger had been driving, but later admitted it had been her at the wheel and she had drunk four large glasses of wine.

David Davies, mitigating, said Pearce had been drinking at a bar in Manningtree.

She had asked her partner to pick her up, but there had been an argument and she was left stranded.

Mr Davies said she had arranged to stay at a bed and breakfast which showed she hadn't wanted to drive, but couldn't recall why she had.

"It indicates that she did not intend to drive," he said. "The big mystery is why she did not stay at the bed and breakfast. The rest as they say is history."

For failing to provide specimens, Pearce was told to complete 140 hours of unpaid work in the community in the next 12 months,

She was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay £225 costs.

For the charge of failing to stop after an accident, she was fined £150.

Published Monday, June 9, 2003

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