A WOMAN has been hit with a 28-month driving ban after being found three times over the drink drive limit.

Caroline Szunko, aged 24, of Shepperton Close, Appleton, was spotted by police officers driving down a bus lane in Lythgoes Lane in the early hours of Sunday, February 25.

Warrington Magistrates' Court heard last Thursday how she had earlier drank wine while celebrating a friend's birthday at nearby restaurant 15 Cairo.

Officers stopped her and a breath test revealed 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

John Barnes, defending, said he was surprised' at how high the reading was, despite the same reading being recorded at a second test back at the police station.

"She tells me she had been drinking wine throughout the evening but I don't get the impression she had had that much to drink," he told the bench.

"This was clearly uncharacteristic behaviour," he said, adding that his client had a clean driving licence and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Chairman of the bench, Sylvia Wright, told Szunko: "We could be considering a community penalty."

"However, because of your previous good character, your lack of convictions and cooperation with police, we are going to give you a fine of £400 and you will be disqualified for 28 months."

Szunko also agreed to go on a £150 drink drive course which would reduce her ban by 25 per cent.