A WOMAN breaking drink driving laws for the second time claimed a television crew prevented her from taking a breath test.

Julian Tanikal, prosecuting, said police stopped York resident Victoria Elizabeth Barrett, 41, on the A1079 near Kexby just before 11pm on May 30.

She took and failed a roadside breath test, but when they took her to a police station for a second breath test to be used as evidence in court, she refused to take it, saying she was psychotic.

Barrett, of Cherry Tree Avenue, New Earswick, pleaded guilty to failing to take a breath test. She was given a mandatory three-year driving ban because she has been convicted of the same offence in 2012.

For her, Keith Whitehouse said when she was in the police station she was "confronted" by a camera crew making a film for Channel Four about police custody.

"This caused her a great deal of distress and effectively clouded her judgement," he said.

Barrett suffered from depression and post traumatic stress disorder and had been diagnosed as having a personality disorder, and was taking medication, he said.

In addition to the driving ban, York magistrates gave Barrett a six-month community order with ten days' rehabilitative activities and ordered her to pay £185 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge.

Mr Tanikal said police were tipped off about Barrett's drink driving.

When they signalled her to pull over, she swerved towards the centre of the carriageway and then pulled over to the left.

She smelt of alcohol, her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet.

Barrett originally pleaded not guilty and her case was adjourned for trial.

But before the trial date, she changed her plea.

Mr Whitehouse said she wanted to get the case over and done with so she could concentrate on being with her father, who is dying of cancer.