A WOMAN who had worked for the NHS as a hospital cook for 19 years felt that she had been goaded when she was caught drink driving.

Helen Louise Stretch, 36, of Ffordd Dyfed, Rhos near Wrexham, was found to have 114 microgrammes of alcohol in her breath, compared to the legal limit of 35, when her Corsa car was stopped in Market Street, Rhos, on December 22, explained prosecutor Anouska Youds.

North East Wales Magistrates’ Court heard she had not intended to drive that afternoon.

Her marriage had broken down, there had been a dispute over the dog and it was alleged that her husband had said if she did not pick up the dog then it would be thrown from an aqueduct.

It was a fruitless journey because she did not get the dog but defending solicitor Fiona Larkin said it appeared that there had been an anonymous call to the police. Her client felt that she had been goaded.

Stretch was banned from driving for 45 months after the court at Mold heard that she had a previous similar conviction.

She was placed on a 12 month community order with rehabilitation and she was fined £250 with £85 costs and a £30 surcharge.

The prosecutor said that she was seen just before 2 pm to drive around a roundabout and stop outside the Co-op.

She had a previous similar conviction in May 2013 when she was banned from driving for 20 months.

Probation officer Simon Greenhalgh said she was not planning to drive.

She had a couple of glasses of wine that day and had a rather heavy drinking session the night before.

The defendant received a call from her husband saying the dog needed to be collected.

She had been told to “get the dog now” or it would be thrown over the aqueduct, it was alleged.

There had been a dispute over the dog, she panicked and drove to get the dog.

She banged on the door, she did not get the dog, she was quite upset after her husband came out of the property and she drove home - stopping on the way at The Co-op.