A university student was found to be over the drink drive limit after she hit the kerb in Cowley.
Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard that police officers pulled over to help after seeing Ashmita Chakraborty’s Toyota Auris by the side of Oxford Road, Cowley, in the early hours of March 11.
Another driver had stopped and was at her window trying to speak to her. The police officers were concerned the 27-year-old had been drinking and, when she provided a positive breathalyser test at the roadside, they arrested her.
Prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish said: “One of the officers attempted to move her vehicle to a safer place but couldn’t drive the vehicle. He found there was damage to the near-side wheel, preventing the vehicle from being driven.”
At the police station she provided a reading of 99mcgs of alcohol in 100ml of breath – almost three times the legal limit of 35mcgs.
In mitigation, it was said that Chakraborty had gone out for drinks intending to stay with a friend, who had left early – leaving her with nowhere to stay. At the time of the incident, she was suffering from ‘severe anxiety’ and her mental health had reached ‘rock bottom’.
The court heard she had a first class honours degree, had completed post-graduate studies at Oxford University and was now studying for a doctorate in music production.
Chakraborty, of Oakley, Bucks., pleaded guilty to drink driving. She had no previous convictions.
She was fined £250, ordered to pay £119 in costs and surcharge, and banned from driving for two years.
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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.
To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk
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