A BUSINESS studies graduate from Whitchurch has admitted she was “foolish” to have swapped seats with the driver of a car after a night out in Wrexham.

Danielle Marie Dunleavy, 27, of Harvern Gardens in Prees, told Mold Magistrates Court how she thought she was helping her friend, when they were stopped by police on Elice Way.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court how North Wales Police were alerted to Volkswagen Polo being driven in the Abbott Street area of the town at around 3.45am on March 17.

After being signalled to stop, the stationary car seemed to jolt forwards, as if stalling, before a police officer approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, where they found Dunleavy, who admitted she had been drinking.

A roadside breath test revealed Dunleavy to be over the drink-drive limit, however, she later admitted to police how she had in fact not been the driver and had swapped seats with her friend.

She added how at a recent trial, Dunleavy was acquitted of being the driver of the vehicle, however she was appearing at Mold Magistrates charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of her duty.

Probation officer Andrew Cunnah, told the court that Dunleavy fully accepted the charge and that she had been foolish to have done what she did and only did so because she wanted to help her friend, who had been driving.

Mr Cunnah went on to say that Dunleavy, who is currently completing a training course with the fire service, had since had the opportunity to reflect on her alcohol use and “learnt a hard lesson”.

Dunleavy was ordered to pay a £150 fine and other costs totalling £117.