Wendy Smith, of Brocklehurst Way, Macclesfield, stopped her car in her driveway after being spotted by officers, who had received reports she had been driving ‘erratically’.

But a hearing heard that after stopping her car Smith, 47, then accelerated into a fence, magistrates were told.

After being breathalysed, Smith was found to be more than three times over the legal limit of alcohol. She had 113 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mgs.

She pleaded guilty to drink-driving at a hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 28.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: “Officers were radioed saying that a car was driving in an erratic manner just after 6pm on May 1. The patrol saw Ms Smith driving in the opposite direction and signalled for her to stop. Ms Smith then turned into a drive way.

“The defendant stopped the car but then it accelerated forwards five metres and collided with a fence. After getting out of the vehicle, she then had to be helped by officers to their police car.”

Anthony Derbyshire, defending, told the court that Smith had been struggling with pressure at work and was not a regular drinker.

He said: “She has offered a prompt guilty plea at the first opportunity. She is not a regular drinker and since this incident has not had a drink at all. She does not drink due to the responsible job that she has with the Red Cross.

“She works extremely hard and had put herself under pressure. She feels that she has let her family down in coming before you today.”

Smith was disqualified from driving for 26 months, given a one-year community order, must complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was told to pay £85 costs to the court.