A SANDOWN woman caught drink driving after being reported to police by a member of the public has been banned from the road.

Connie Rose Hughes appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The 28-year-old admitted one count of drink driving, on June 5.

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, told the court police had been alerted by a member of the public who saw her at the Co-operative in Sandown.

Officers were told she had been in the High Street shop, where she appeared intoxicated, then was seen to drive off in the direction of the Heights.

Ms Miller said, when police arrived at Hughes’ address a little while later, she appeared heavily intoxicated.

Hughes told police she had consumed three or four large vodka drinks after returning home, during a 45-minute window.

She had 73 microgrammes in 100ml of breath, when the legal drink drive limit is 35.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Hughes was a person of previous good character, and it was her first and final involvement with the criminal justice system.

He said her children had been playing up and Hughes had gone to the shop for groceries after putting them to bed.

The court heard she felt OK to drive, and there was no evidence of unacceptable standards of driving.

Tearful and scared to be put in a cell, Mr Vincent said the whole experience had been frightening for Hughes, and was an incentive never to offend again.

Hughes was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £120.

She was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £34 surcharge.