MOST readers would no doubt agree that the judge got it right when he spared a 65-year-old drink driver from going to jail.

But it must have been a close call after the court heard that 65-year-old Edna Broadley had driven a car with a flat tyre for 40 minutes through Huddersfield after drinking too much wine.

She pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving over the alcohol limit, but the offence happened at 6.10pm on a Saturday evening so it was just by pure luck that this did not end in disaster.

Broadley has been shown mercy by the court and part of the reason may be that she says she has now given up driving for good.

And yet she was given a three year driving ban.

The courts’ powers need toughening up to ban drivers for longer periods and, in the most serious cases, even for life.

Drink drivers are potential killers every time they get behind the wheel and need removing from our roads until the courts can be sure they no longer pose a risk.