A 68-year-old woman has been banned from the roads after she drove her car at just 5mph to a Morrisons supermarket while almost twice the legal alcohol limit because she had run out of milk.
Janet Oldham, of Nickleby Road, Poynton, Cheshire, admitted drink driving at Crewe magistrates court on 20 July 2026. She was fined £340, ordered to pay £224 in costs and a surcharge, and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
The incident occurred at around 9pm on 27 May 2026, when concerned motorists spotted Oldham's red Ford Fiesta driving erratically along London Road and Queensway in Poynton. One witness followed her after seeing the car collide with a parked vehicle, fail to move at a green traffic light, and hesitate at a roundabout.
Police called by concerned witness
Nathan Cooper, prosecuting, told the court: "Police received a 999 call regarding an elderly female driving a red Ford Fiesta near Morrisons and the caller believed that the individual was intoxicated. The caller also reported that the driver had collided with a parked car."
Officers confronted Oldham as she pulled into the Morrisons car park. They said she "smelled strongly of alcohol" and failed three roadside breath tests. Her reading was 68 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly double the legal limit of 35mg. In custody, she gave evidential readings of 71mg and 63mg.
Cooper said: "This matter is aggravated somewhat with there being a collision with a parked vehicle but thankfully on this occasion no one was hurt. It also should be noted Ms Oldham was a woman of good character prior to this incident."
Spinal issues prompted short journey
Oldham's lawyer, Mark Bromley, said in mitigation: "Ms Oldham is a lady who lives on her own. On the day in question she realised she was out of milk and Morrisons supermarket to which she drove is less than half a mile from her address. She has spinal issues which makes it difficult for her to walk so on this occasion she drove that short distance in her motor vehicle."
Bromley added that Oldham had since undergone a brain scan which revealed she had suffered a stroke. Medical professionals advised her not to drive, and she returned her driving licence to the DVLA on 16 June 2026. "She does not intend to drive again," he said.
Magistrate: 'You must understand what danger you were causing'
Sentencing Oldham, JP Elaine Hulton told her: "This was a serious incident and you must understand what danger you were causing. The witness was so concerned that he rang 999 and followed you and saw you driving at 5 miles per hour, very hesitant, and your actions on that day I am sure will stay with you for a long time. Thankfully no one was injured. We know you said to your solicitor that you have no intention to drive but we do have to formally disqualify you."
Oldham, who lives alone and is thought to have been drinking heavily at home before the journey, said she drove because the eight-minute walk to the shops was too far due to her spinal problems. She has now vowed never to drive again.
