A woman from Douglas has been handed a suspended sentence and banned from driving for five years for drink-driving.

Kelly Ann Dallimore, of Appledene Court, pleaded guilty to the charge and was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Dallimore was sentenced to 14 weeks’ custody, suspended for two years and also made the subject of a Suspended Sentence Supervision Order (SSSO).

She must also retake her test at the end of the ban and attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, on June 2 at 2.35pm, a witness saw Dallimore driving a Seat Ibiza at the junction of Anagh Coar Road and the New Castletown Road.

The witness reported that 35-year-old Dallimore almost drove through a red light and her head appeared to be ’bobbing up and down’.

She believed Dallimore to be drunk and followed her towards Quarter Bridge.

Dallimore’s driving continued to appear erratic as she was said to be swerving into the opposite lane and nearly collided with a wall and bollard at one point.

She stopped the car at Mylchreest’s garage and the witness got out of her own car to speak to Dallimore.

The witness said that Dallimore appeared a ’mess’, had make-up running down her face and was slurring her words.

When police arrived they had to help Dallimore out of the vehicle and she was arrested and taken to police headquarters.

She failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 117 - the legal limit is 35. She made no reply after caution.

In magistrates’ court her advocate Louise Cooil said that the offence was a ’one-off’ and that Dallimore had not appeared for offences relating to drink or drink-driving before.

Ms Cooil said: ’This is a young woman who has had a difficult and turbulent few years. She has been trying to address complex issues.

’She’d had a difficult time. She got into the car thinking she would get something to eat but realised she shouldn’t be driving and intended to find somewhere to pull over. She stopped and has been fully compliant with the police.’

Ms Cooil added that her client had recently had issues with alcohol and had self-referred to Motiv8, the alcohol advisory service.

’She has realised she needs to take more action,’ said the advocate.

’She has been prescribed medications throught Motiv8 that will cause her to be ill if she drinks.

’Ms Dallimore hasn’t perhaps understood the seriousness of her difficultives until this point.’

Magistrates’ chair Julian Ashcroft said: ’You were a danger to yourself and other road users.’