A 67-year-old woman who drove into a police car at three miles an hour during a drink-driving investigation has been fined. Rachel Davies admitted charges of driving without due care and attention and driving whilst unfit through drugs at Newcastle Magistrates Court this week.
Incident on Chillingham Road
The court heard that the incident took place on Chillingham Road in Heaton, Newcastle, on May 18. Police had responded to reports of a drink driver and found Davies's vehicle swerving across both lanes. Officers blocked one end of the road with one vehicle while another followed her car.
Davies drove at around three miles an hour and collided with the police vehicle. When officers opened her car door, she appeared unresponsive and was slumped over the wheel. Tests later revealed that she had zopiclone, a tranquilizer, in her blood.
Defence Details
Jack Lovell, defending, explained that Davies had got into her car because she felt uncomfortable after a staff member at a pub walked her home when she became unwell. He said she suffered from mental health difficulties and argued that the police response had been heavy-handed.
"Despite the way the police handled this matter, Ms Davies was fully compliant," he said. "The circumstances of the offence are unusual. What Ms Davies told me is she had been to a pub shortly before the incident. There were concerns about the way she was presenting and an ambulance was called by a member of staff. She attempted to walk away but a member of staff decided to escort her home."
Lovell said Davies did not feel she needed an ambulance but felt uncomfortable in the presence of the pub staff member, which is why she got in her car. He added that three police officers approached the driver's side, smashed the window, and dragged her out of the car, throwing her to the ground and handcuffing her.
Sentencing and Impact
The court was told that Davies had recently surrendered her driving licence after being diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. She also suffered "quite significant" injuries during her arrest, according to her defence.
Davies, of Cheltenham Terrace in Heaton, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge. Chair of the bench Martin Blake said: "We have listened very carefully to what's been said. Because of your previous character and the circumstances of the offence you will be fined."
