A WOMAN was fleeing domestic violence when she crashed her car whilst drunk, a court has heard.

Tracy Woolley was caught drink driving a black Peugeot on Thamesdown Drive on May 8, and was involved in a crash.

A breath test showed she had 105 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath – triple the drink drive limit.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard on June 23 that Woolley was fleeing a domestic violence incident involving her husband at the time.

It was heard she had obtained a domestic violence protection order previously and that, on the day of the crash, she had drunk a pint of beer and glass of wine, as well as drinking the day before.

The 44-year-old’s solicitor, Mr Capildeo, said it would be “contrary to the interests of justice to sentence within” the guidelines.

Woolley, of Kinross Crescent, Portsmouth, had earlier pleaded guilty to drink driving.

Sentencing, District Judge Joanna Dickens said that it was a “really, really unusual” case.

“I’m concerned that you need some assistance with signposting the agencies. I am concerned that you appear to be extremely vulnerable.

“Whilst I am sympathetic to you personally, my main concern from a court perspective is the commission of further offences.

“I’m going to do something extraordinary today I wouldn’t usually do.

“Firstly, you put the lives of many people in danger. You were just basically out of control and could have killed somebody.”

She said that she would normally ban Woolley from the roads for around 30 months, but instead limited it to 12 months.

She was also given a 12-month community order including six rehabilitation activity days, a fine of £200 and told to pay total court costs of £180.