A mother who was driving under the influence of alcohol and had two young children without seatbelts in her car has avoided jail time. Kirsty Jones, 36, from Abbeyvale Drive in Belle Vale, was seen driving recklessly in local streets after consuming a bottle of wine and multiple vodka drinks at a pub, as disclosed in Liverpool Crown Court.
An officer noticed Jones in a Vauxhall Corsa turning onto Naylorsfield Drive from Naylorsfield Road around 10 pm on June 11. The officer, alerted by reports of her erratic driving, detected a strong smell of alcohol upon approaching her vehicle. The public had raised concerns to Merseyside police about a driver who had consumed alcohol and had children in the car, which proved to be accurate as the officer found two unrestrained children, ages three and two, in the back seat.
The officer observed the intoxicated state of Jones, who displayed slurred speech and unsteadiness when asked to exit the vehicle. A breathalyzer test conducted at the police station showed her blood alcohol level to be 138mg, nearly four times the legal limit of 35mg.
Jones admitted to charges of drink driving, being drunk in charge of a child, driving with unrestrained children, and breaching a prior suspended sentence related to theft. During her interview, she expressed remorse, apologized, and shed tears.
In defense, Ms. Megan Cox appealed to Judge Gary Woodhall not to activate Jones’ previous suspended sentence, citing her struggles with past violence in a relationship, alcohol misuse, and mental health issues impacting her behavior. Cox highlighted Jones’ efforts to rehabilitate, including engagement with support services like Change Grow Live, counseling sessions, and medication adjustments.
Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offenses, Judge Woodhall opted to suspend Jones’ 14-week prison sentence for 12 months, requiring her to complete a 20-day rehabilitation program and a year-long alcohol treatment course. Additionally, her existing suspended prison term was extended by three months to facilitate her continued progress towards rehabilitation.