Anna Wiles (pictured outside Manchester Magistrates’ Court) drank a bottle of vodka after she was made redundant
A former magistrate’s wife who downed a bottle of vodka before driving her Mini convertible has been banned from the roads for three years.
Anna Wiles, 54, had just been made redundant when she was almost four times the alcohol limit and slumped in the driver’s seat.
The mother of two – a former company buyer – drank a quarter bottle of vodka in ‘one go’ just hours after learning she would be losing her employment as an administrator at a care home.
Mrs Wiles, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was so intoxicated as her car weaved along the street, and eyewitness called an ambulance thinking she had had suffered a stroke or a heart attack.
At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, Wiles admitted drink driving and was disqualified for three years and was also sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for a year.
Her husband Richard, 56, who sat as JP for seven years watched from the public gallery.
The court heard the incident occurred last month on January 10 after Wiles had bought the bottle of vodka from a local shop before driving home.
Tina Cunnane, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant was spotted by an independent witness who spotted her weaving in her lane.
‘She was concerned about her driving and the defendant then stopped in the road.
‘The witness approached the car and saw the defendant slumped in the driver’s seat with her head back and her mouth open.
‘She was concerned that she had suffered a stroke or heart attack. When the paramedics attended they called the police.
‘The police arrived and the defendant’s husband arrived and indicated that she was intoxicated. She was arrested and taken to the police station.’
Tests showed Wiles had 134 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililtres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Wiles (pictured) admitted drink driving and was disqualified for three years and was also sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for a year
A probation report was read to the court, which said: This is her first offence. She told me about the background to what happened that day on the 10th of January.
‘She tells me that she had quite an emotional conversation with her husband the night before.
‘On the 10th January she found out that she was being made redundant and was concerned about going home to find her husband in a position that she didn’t want to find him in.
‘She then made the foolish decision – and she acknowledges that – to buy a quarter bottle of vodka and consumed that in one go.
‘She doesn’t remember much, she remembers bits and pieces but she remembers the police arriving at the scene and then not a lot before or after that.
‘She knows and is upset that she could have killed somebody or herself. Fortunately that didn’t happen.
‘The reading was quite high – almost four times the legal limit – but she has been cooperative and is very very sorry for what happened.
‘She makes no excuses about it. She has lived with her husband in their property since 1996. It is owned by the couple and no one else is living there. They have two grown up daughters.’
The report added: ‘She was made redundant in January having been in work for the majority of her adult life and had held an international role selling products to various retailers.
‘It is only the last couple of years things have taken a downward turn. The alcohol use in the last few years has been a problem to the point that she has undertaken a couple of detoxes.
The court heard that Wiles – who is married to a former magistrate – had battled anxiety and depression
‘She is in the process of obtaining benefits in the form of universal credit. Her husband is self employed and is insured if he ever goes on long term sick. Her two daughters are grown adults.’
The court heard Wiles had previously battled depression and anxiety.
Her lawyer Ravi Sethi said in mitigation: ‘She is 54 years old with two children and has worked all her life.
‘She has pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. It is unfortunate she finds herself in this position.
‘Her husband is an ex-magistrate and he understands how serious this is and she is taking it very seriously.’
Wiles was also ordered to pay £200 in costs and surcharges.
Passing sentence chairman of the magistrates Phillip Greene told Wiles: ‘You are a person of good character but you will not be going to prison today.
‘However your alcohol level was so high it does cross the custody threshold and we have to protect the public.
‘Your alcohol reading was very very high and it is fortunate no one came to any harm including yourself.’