A MILITARY police officer and former PCSO has admitted drink-driving after crashing her car into railings outside Colchester police station.

Lance Corporal Siobhan Cruikshank, 22, was almost twice the legal limit when she crashed her Vauxhall Astra into railings, a traffic island and traffic lights, in Southway.

She was banned from driving when she appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court and faces being kicked out of the Army.

Philip Pearson, prosecuting, told the court Cruickshank was driving in the early hours of April 15 when she was crashed.

A breath tested showed she had 67mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Mr Pearson said: “Given the location, police were quickly on the scene and found her still sitting in the driving seat.”

Cruikshank signed up with the Army in 2010 and joined 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police. She works on investigative support for Colchester and had hoped to travel to Afghanistan on an upcoming tour, but requires a driving licence.

Cruikshank had an unblemished record previously, but on the night in question had gone out with friends in the town.

The court heard she returned to the barracks when she took a call from her boyfriend.

He told her he had been cheating on her, which prompted the young woman to go for a drive.

Cruikshank, of Merville Barracks, Colchester, was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

She was also fined £350 and made to pay £100 costs.

She agreed to take part in a drink-driving rehabilitation course, which will reduce the driving ban by four months.

A spokesman for 16 Air Assault Brigade said: “When a soldier appears in court and is given a non-custodial sentence, he or she is seen by their commanding officer, who has a number of sanctions available depending on the rank of the soldier and severity of the offence.

“These can range from formal interview through to termination of service.”