A drink driver was found to be over the limit after her car broke down and she flagged down police for help, a court heard.

Katie Burness, 23, was driving from Congleton to Macclesfield in a VW Polo when it ran out of petrol, magistrates were told.

When police came to help they smelt alcohol on her breath, prosecutors said.

Burness, of Lincoln Close, Rainow, admitted attempting to drink drive at Macclesfield magistrates’ court on November 17.

She was banned for 12 months.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: “At 2.40am on October 26 PC Woodward was on patrol on the A54 at Bosley. He spotted a vehicle close to Gibbons Farm and two occupants and the windows were steamed up. When the officer approached the car, the defendant, who was in the driver’s seat, wound down the window and asked if he had any jump leads. She then tried to start the car. She was breathalysed recording 68mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

James Ardren, defending, said: “The cause of the breakdown was that there was no petrol and battery problems. It has been a terrible ordeal for her to come to court.”