A DRINK driver told a court that she was behind the wheel in Worcester because she was fleeing from her angry sister.

Kerry Dibble, of Millstream Lane in Slough, Berkshire was visiting her aunt and sister in Malvern when she had a row with her sister, who had previously ripped her dress during another heated argument.

The 49-year-old decided to drive from the scene to a nearby Premier Inn. Police found her in Bransford Road in Worcester with the car half on the curb and half on the road. The engine was running with the location in the sat nav routed to Slough – but the court heard she had not intended to drive there.

Dibble was taken to the police station and a test measured 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

She has committed three previous drink driving offences, with two in the last 10 years.

Orton Colette, prosecuting, said: “She had been drinking since 3.30pm that afternoon.

“Officers saw her on the Bransford Road and went to see if she needed help. They noticed that she smelled of alcohol and when she got out of the car she was unsteady on her feet.”

Philip Smith, defending Dibble, said: “She had an argument with her sister, who started shouting and that was when she believed her sister’s mood had started to turn.

“She had ripped her dress from her neck to waste on another occasion and she did not want any repeat of that.

“She decided very foolishly that the hotel was only a few minutes away and that she would not call a taxi. She had only just switched on the sat nav which automatically routed her to Slough. She did not intend to drive all the way to Slough."

He added: “She is very remorseful for her actions.”

Dibble was disqualified from driving for 24 months and given a curfew to stay in her home from 7pm to 7am for 12 weeks with the exception of June 30, when she will be a maid of honour at a wedding.

She appeared in Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.