A young woman who crashed her car into a metal barrier in a town centre, almost flipping it, was over the drink-drive limit.

Care worker Carmel Bowman, 29, who admitted drink driving when she appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court, was given a 21-month driving ban.

At the time she crashed her car, which witnesses said almost flipped over, she was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Diane Jackson, prosecuting, outlined how the defendant was caught after crashing her Citroen in Tangier Street on March 4.

“Officers spoke to the driver and noticed she was slurring her words and her eyes were glazed,” said Mrs Jackson.

“She was asked when she last had a drink and she replied that it was three hours ago.”

A breath test revealed she had 88mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Claire Kirkpatrick, for Bowman, said the defendant had been left feeling extremely worried and ashamed of her actions.

“She accepts she made a real error of judgement,” said the lawyer.

“She'd been into Whitehaven for a drink and got a taxi home.

“Once she got home, she realised she'd left some belongings in Whitehaven and made the extremely foolish decision to drive back into [town to get them].”

There were background reasons which explained the offence, including that Bowman, of Meadow Road, Whitehaven, was taking medication which may have affected her ability to absorb alcohol.

“She accepts she should not have made that decision,” continued the lawyer.

As well as imposing the driving ban, magistrates fined Bowman £160. with costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.

The defendant said she wanted to take a drink driver's rehabilitation course, which will reduce her ban.