A MOTHER who drove her four-year-old daughter home from a nursery school while almost four times the drink-drive limit is facing a jail term.

Joy Jones, 44, of West End, Witney, appeared at Banbury Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol at an earlier hearing.

Prosecuting, Gavin Hernandez, told the court a nursery school owner smelt alcohol on Jones's breath as she picked up her four-year-old daughter in Church Green, Witney, on March 31.

Mr Hernandez told the court the witness saw Jones hold her daughter's hand, walk along the road instead of the pavement, then stumble on a kerb before getting into her car and driving away. She telephoned the police who arrived at Jones's home and arrested her on suspicion of drink-driving.

A breath test revealed she had 132mg of alcohol in her breath - almost four times the legal limit.

Mr Hernandez said: "She (nursery school owner) was so worried for the welfare of the child that she telephoned the police. She was clearly intoxicated when police arrived at her house."

Defending, Paul Bevan, told the court Jones had drunk glasses of wine and brandy the night before because she was struggling to go to sleep.

The following day, she had a glass of wine at lunchtime, but drank at least two more glasses of wine after she drove her daughter home and before the breath test. She was also being treated for depression at the time, he added.

Chris Gold, chairman of the magistrates, deferred sentencing until December 21 for probation reports to be prepared.

He said: "The offence is driving with a very high reading and I don't need to tell you sentencing guidelines point to custody.

"The facts that we think make the offence very serious are you were in charge of a vehicle and a four-year-old in the vicinity of a nursery school, with lots of other young children running about. So, at the best of times, you would need your wits about you.

"You also admitted consuming alcohol at lunchtime, knowing you would be in charge of a car shortly after. It is so serious we cannot rule out custody."

Jones was granted unconditional bail until sentencing at Banbury magistrates. An interim driving ban was imposed.