A motorist has been fined £1,000 and banned from getting behind the wheel for two years for drink-driving.

Wasna Bradburn, aged 45, of St John’s was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs and must retake her test before driving again.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on February 11 at 1.50am, Bradburn was stopped by police at Derby Road in Peel.

Police reported smelling alcohol on her breath and when she was asked if she had been drinking, she replied ’yes’.

She was asked to take a roadside breathalyser test and after making numerous attempts managed to give a sample which was over the drink-drive limit.

At police headquarters a further breathalyser test produced a reading of 68 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres - the legal limit is 35.

Defending Bradburn in court advocate Ian Kermode handed in letters of reference on behalf of his client as well as a letter from Bradburn herself apologising to the court.

The advocate said: ’Mrs Bradburn had consumed a few drinks after work. She made the error of judgement to drive home when she would normally get a lift. She bitterly regrets that error of judgement.

’We have heard reference to her trying to use the roadside breathalyser kit. We would say that she was trying to work the device. She tried her best, she was not being unco-operative.’

He added: ’The vehicle was properly insured. There was no crash or collision.

’No-one was injured and there was no damage to property. Police described her as "calm and co-operative" in their report. Her attitude is one of shock, embarrassment and deep regret.

’The loss of her licence today will have a significant impact in terms of work and care commitments, such as school runs.

’We would ask the court to treat his as a one-off. Nothing in Mrs Bradburn’s record suggests it is likely to occur again. We would ask for the minimum ban of two years.’

Magistrates’ chairman Caroline Convery said: ’We have taken into account your early guilty plea, co-operation with the police, and that you have no previous convictions.

’But as has been said, today you lose your good character. If you’re going to drive you shouldn’t drink at all.’