Latest news with #KatherineCampbell
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teacher caught 'stumbling' as she put kids in BMW keeps licence 'with 16 points'
Katherine Campbell was allowed to drive with 16 points on her licence after a judge found she would have faced 'exceptional hardship' if unable to drive to her job A teacher who was caught "stumbling" as she put children into a BMW while three times over the drink-driving limit has been allowed to keep her licence thanks to an "exceptional hardship" ruling. Katherine Campbell was reported to police by a passerby who watched her stumble while putting the youngsters into her BMW 3 series on May 2. The 38-year-old, who works as a teacher at the Alsager School near Crewe, Cheshire, was found to be more than three times the drink driving limit by officers who arrived to administer a breath test, a court heard. The teacher, who denies planning to drive the car, has been allowed to keep her licence after magistrates found restricting her driving could cause her to lose her job. South Cheshire Magistrates Court heard a passerby called 999 after spotting Campbell as she visited her parents' house in the Presbury area of Cheshire to feed some cats. Annika Livermore, prosecuting, said police received a call stating there was a "black BMW with a female driver who appeared to be intoxicated with two children in the car". The prosecutor added that, when police arrived, they found Campbell "unsteady on her feet", speaking with slurred speech, and smelling of alcohol. She continued: "The member of the public approached the female and took the car key from her, preventing her from driving the vehicle. A passerby took the children into a nearby house. 'Police who attended said the defendant was heavily intoxicated. Her speech was slurred, she was unsteady on her feet, and her eyes were glazed. There was a strong smell of intoxicants." She added the children's car seats were not clipped in. A roadside breath test revealed the teacher had 117 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliltres of breath, above the legal limit of 35. Further, evidential readings taken at a police station showed 107 and 97. The court also heard that Campbell had a previous speeding offence on her record, and had six points on her licence for failing to give information about a driver. Her lawyer, John Wright, said during mitigation that his client had seen "some friends who are neighbours" and "drank two or three gin and soda waters". He added: "She concedes they were home measures, perhaps far larger than usual. He said while she was "fully aware she had too much to drink" she had never intended to drive. Mr Wright said: "It was the passerby's assumption there was an intention to drive, although there never was. When the police arrived, she accepted having had a drink, but she has not had a drink since. "She says it is just not worth it. She does not have an issue with alcohol.'' The lawyer said she could lose her job if she gave up her licence, with her current 40-minute car journey to school increased to "two trains, two buses". Campbell, from Macclesfield, admitted to being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and two charges of being drunk and in charge of a child. She was allowed to keep her licence by chair of the bench Susan Taylor, who handed her a 12-month community order with requirements that she attends 20 days of rehabilitation with the probation service. She must also pay £199 in costs and a surcharge. Ms Taylor said the court had accepted the "case of exceptional hardship", and allowed her to keep her licence so she could continue working. But she warned Campbell: "Please be mindful that you are driving around with 16 points on your licence. "If you come before the court again for any offence to do with driving, you will get a lengthy ban, and I mean lengthy. Please do not be back in here again.'
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Drunken chemistry teacher spared jail and allowed to keep driving after being found in her BMW three times over the legal limit with two children, aged 5 and 6, in the back... after claiming she never intended to drive it
A chemistry teacher found drunk in her car with two children has been spared jail and allowed to keep driving after a court ruled a ban would lead to the loss of her job. Katherine Campbell, 38, who had been drinking gin, was reported to police by a passerby when she was seen stumbling in a stupor while putting the youngsters in the back of her BMW 3 series. A roadside breath test showed Campbell – who teaches at Alsager School near Crewe – was over three times the limit. But she denied intending to drive the car and claimed to have been waiting for her partner to do so instead. The children, aged five and six, were unharmed. At Crewe magistrates' court, Campbell, from Macclesfield and who already had six points on her licence, faced a month in prison and a driving ban after she admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and two charges of being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven. But she was allowed to carry on driving under 'exceptional hardship' rules despite her getting another ten points on her licence – meaning she will be behind the wheel with 16 points. She was also ordered to wear a so-called 'sobriety tag' under the terms of a 90-day alcohol abstinence order. Campbell claimed if she lost her licence she would need 'two trains and two buses' for the 17-mile commute to her work rather than her usual 40-minute trip by car. At Crewe magistrates' court, Campbell, who already had six points on her licence, faced a month in prison and a driving ban after she admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and two charges of being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven The incident occurred on May 2 this year when Campbell had picked up the children before visiting her parents' house in the Prestbury area. She then visited neighbours 'and drank two or three gin and soda waters'. The court heard the passerby confiscated Campbell's car keys. The two children were taken to a nearby house. Magistrate Susan Taylor told Campbell: 'If you come before the court again for any offence to do with driving, you will get a lengthy ban and I mean lengthy. Please do not be back in here again.'
