A MUM of two has been handed a suspended prison sentence after driving to pick her children up from school while nearly four times the legal limit.

Lorna Marie Snook, of Llawrllan, Rhayader, was handed an eight-week sentence, suspended for a year, by magistrates in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday, March 24, after admitting drink driving.

Snook, 27, drove to the school on February 26, having drunk five gins earlier in the day. Teachers noticed that she appeared intoxicated and was “swaying from side to side”. She did not take the children in the car.

She left the scene but the police were called and Snook was stopped in Rhayader. After being arrested, she provided a reading of 128 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said: “It was around 3.30pm when a teacher noted a female driving a car.

“The driver pulled into the school but was told she was not allowed to park there. The defendant appeared to be intoxicated. The police were called. Other teachers saw her and also said she appeared intoxicated and was swaying from side to side. No children were taken away by her.

“PC Horlock arrived and located the defendant in Church Street. She appeared unsteady on her feet and had bloodshot eyes. She was arrested for drink driving.

“When interviewed she admitted she had been drinking and then driven, she said she had five gins. She accepted she was wrong to do what she did, especially to go there and pick up children.”

Acting for Snook, Paul Lewis said his client had been “shocked and horrified” by the position she’d put herself in.

“This was very much a one-off occasion," he said.

"She would usually walk to school, she had no intention to drive, but she lost track of time, she looked at the clock and suddenly realised it was too late to walk, so she made the tragic and stupid mistake to jump in the car to save some time.”

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report and heard from probation officer Donna Davies, who revealed Snook had consumed a few drinks after a “bad morning”, thinking that she didn’t need to drive that day.

“She panicked when she realised the time and got in car to go pick the children up,” said Ms Davies.

Chair of the bench, Ingrid Gallagher, told Snook: “The amount of alcohol was at the highest level, aggravated by going to pick children up at school, with other children there. We are grateful that staff noticed your behaviour.”

Magistrates reduced the sentence from 12 to eight weeks, which they suspended for 12 months. In addition, Snook must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days as well as 80 hours unpaid work.

She was disqualified from driving for 32 months and must pay a £128 surcharge and £85 costs.