A DRINK-driver was arrested after she was spotted weaving back and forth across the A19 by an off-duty police officer, a court heard.

Samantha Jane McIntyre was three times the drink drive limit as she drove along the road at 3am on July 6, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

Her driving was so bad an off-duty police officer who saw it called his on-duty colleagues and she was arrested after she turned off onto Wheldrake Lane, York.

The 31-year-old, who works as a carpenter in the showbiz industry, had a previous drink driving conviction in early 2012.

York magistrates told her normally someone caught driving with such a high level of alcohol in her system and with a previous drink driving conviction would receive a community punishment such as unpaid hours, rehabilitative work or a curfew.

But because of her lifestyle and commitment to her work they decided to give her a heavy fine.

McIntyre, of Kitchener Close, Selby, pleaded guilty to drink driving. She was banned from driving for four years and fined £1,600 with £85 prosecution costs and a £165 statutory surcharge.

For her Harry Bayman said she was a freelance carpenter who worked on contracts both in the UK and abroad with show producers.

She was about to finish one in York and in October would start an 18-month contract that would take her all over the UK as well as to Ireland and Switzerland.

On July 6, she had been out with colleagues for a work do. She had had too much to drink and made the “stupid” decision to drive, said the defence solicitor.

She hadn’t realised that her driving was bad.

The previous drink driving offence, for which she received a 20-month ban, had occurred at the end of 2011.

A probation report told magistrates McIntyre doesn’t have a drink problem.