UK National News - Mother Sentenced For Drink-Driving

09 July 2008

Mother Sentenced For Drink-Driving

A mother has been given a three month suspended sentence after being reported to the police by her daughters for drink-driving.

Twin sisters Emma and Helen Cox, 21, rang police when their mum, Tracey Cox, of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, got into her Mazda X5 after drinking a bottle of wine on April 29.

Officers found when they apprehended Cox that she had been two-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit.

It is understood the 43-year-old was arrested a few weeks later when another relative reported her for trying to collect her eight-year-old from school while under the influence.

On this occasion, she failed to provide a breath sample.

Cox had been warned that she faced prison after earlier pleading guilty to one offence of drink-driving and another of failing to provide a specimen.

The mother-of-four has received a suspended three-month jail sentence at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

She has also been banned from driving for three years, placed under a 12-month supervision requirement and ordered to carry out 100 hours of voluntary work and to attend a drink-impaired drivers' programme.

District Judge Michael Rosenberg said: "I applaud your daughters' public spirtedness in contacting and reporting it to the police. They must have been on the horns of a dilemma and their actions, in my view, are to be admired."

Judge Rosenberg told Cox that she had "come to the very periphery of being sent away".

Cox's prison sentence will be suspended for 12 months and she has been ordered to pay £150 prosecution costs.

Representing Cox, Chris Peace told the court that she had been undergoing a difficult divorce from her husband and was at a "low ebb".

It is understood Cox has now sought counselling from Alcoholics Anonymous.

(DS)