A drink-driver who veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with two cars tried to argue with police that she "wasn't at fault."

Helen Jones, of Maesteg in Cymau, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon.

The 51-year-old admitted that on June 23, she drove a motor vehicle on Wrexham Road in Caergwrle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her breath exceeded the prescribed limit.

James Ashton, prosecuting, told the court that at around 5pm on November 25, Jones was driving her silver Vauxhall Astra when she was involved in a collision.

She'd "crossed the white line" and headed towards oncoming traffic.

Her collision with the first of the two vehicles caused her front offside wheel to fully shear off the car - but she continued on three wheels.

Jones, still on the wrong side of the road, then collided with another vehicle and "continued for another hundred metres or so before stopping."

The police attended, Mr Ashton said - but Jones "was of the view initially that she wasn't at fault."

Roadside breath tests of all three drivers soon revealed the truth however - Jones tested positive for alcohol and the other two didn't.

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It was later revealed that she had 58 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit bring 35.

In interview, she told officers she had consumed alcohol as she was grieving following the sudden death of a friend.

Euros Jones, defending, told the court his client "fully accepts" she was responsible and confirmed she'd consumed alcohol after finding out about the death of her friend.

"She was not thinking straight," he added.

Probation officer Pamela Roberts told the court: "She did express remorse and feels embarrassed at finding herself before the court.

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"It was not her intention to drive.

"She was in a heightened emotional state."

The court handed down a 12 month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and a two month alcohol abstinence monitoring order.

Jones was banned from driving for 16 months and must pay £85 costs, as well as a £114 victim surcharge.