A "PILLAR of the community" is off the roads for two years after she was caught driving at three times the drink drive limit.

Fiona Christie attracted police attention when she didn't give way at the junction of Lincoln Street and Salisbury Road as a patrol car was approaching, said Kathryn Reeve, prosecuting.

Officers followed her as she drove slowly up Water End and into Yarburgh Grove via Poppleton Road, swerving across the central white line and braking unnecessarily.

They gave her a breath test which revealed she was three times the drink drive limit.

Christie, 45, of St Paul's Court, off Yarburgh Grove, York, pleaded guilty to drink driving and was banned from driving for two years. She was also fined £450 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £45 statutory surcharge.

Her solicitor Jane Maloney said: "She is very ashamed to find herself here. She has worked very hard and been a pillar of her community."

Christie was a full time care home worker.

On February 6, she had been at her partner's and not intended to drive. But her partner had thrown her out after a row and started to drive home. She accepted she had a drink problem.