A drink-driving nurse who was caught over the limit on her way to work has been handed a suspended sentence and banned from driving for seven years.

Roseanne Lafferty failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 115. The legal limit is 35.

This was Lafferty’s second conviction for drink-driving.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith sentenced the 41-year-old to three months in custody, suspended for two years.

He also ordered her to retake her test at the end of the ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

The court heard that Lafferty was banned from driving for two years in 2017 while in the Republic of Ireland but there was no requirement to retake her test so that ban ended in 2019.

The latest offence was committed in the early evening on January 8.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said: ’Clearly an issue of concern is that Ms Lafferty was on her way to work. However, she didn’t crash, there were no injuries or property damaged.

’She co-operated with the roadside test and at police headquarters.

’There is just one previous conviction, though it is highly relevant.’

Mr Kermode went on to say that Lafferty, who lives in Christian Road, Douglas, had sought assistance from Motiv8 and had been driving since 2008.

He continued: ’She has not consumed alcohol at all since the incident. Her attitude is one of contrition.’

The advocate pointed out that references for his client ’painted a picture of a kind-hearted nurse’, and that the distance driven was short.

Lafferty was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.