Woman refused a test due to fear of needles (From Ledbury Reporter)

Woman refused a test due to fear of needles

2:10pm Wednesday 18th April 2012 in Ledbury

A WOMAN who was just over the limit has admitted drink-driving.

Megan Hay, aged 23, was stopped after driving her Peugeot in The Tything at 4am on Saturday, December 17.

A roadside breathalyser reading was 37mcg in 100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

A further breath sample taken at Worcester police station was 40mcg and Hay refused a blood test.

Police said Hay was unsteady on her feet.

Judith Kenney, defending, said Hay was not advised by a solicitor at the police station and did not realise that she would not have been prosecuted had her reading been 39mcg which was why she was offered the blood test.

She said: “Any lawyer would have advised her to have a blood test.

She didn’t do that.”

Miss Kenney said that Hay had suffered from epilepsy as a child and had endured many blood tests leaving her with a phobia of needles.

She said Hay, of Bishops Frome, had lost a job as a result of the offence but still worked in a restaurant and looked after an autistic child.

Magistrates disqualified her for 12 months and fined her £135.

She must also pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £15.