A primary school teacher has narrowly avoided a driving ban after being convicted of drink-driving, with a court accepting that losing her licence would cause 'exceptional hardship'.
Rebecca Jones, a 32-year-old educator from the West Midlands, was caught behind the wheel with 53 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - exceeding the legal limit of 35mg.
The incident occurred on February 17th when police stopped her vehicle. Magistrates at Worcester Justice Centre heard how the teacher's ability to perform her job would be severely compromised without her driving licence.
The Court's Decision
Instead of imposing a driving ban, the court handed down a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. Jones was also ordered to pay £135 in costs and a £114 surcharge, while receiving 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
The presiding magistrate acknowledged the 'exceptional circumstances' of the case, noting that the defendant's profession and responsibilities contributed to the unusual sentencing decision.
Professional Consequences
Despite avoiding a ban, the conviction has professional implications for Jones. Teaching authorities are likely to review the case, as drink-driving convictions can affect a teacher's standing and require disclosure to employers.
The case highlights the difficult balance courts must strike between punishing motoring offences and considering the broader impact on defendants' livelihoods and dependents.
