A WOMAN has been banned from getting behind the wheel after drink-driving.

Sarah Stringer, of School Street in Holmfirth, was handed the 12 month ban at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

She had told the Huddersfield bench that she didn’t feel drunk after helping a friend celebrate their birthday.

Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said that the 22-year-old was stopped by police in the early hours of June 15.

He said: “At 4.15am police became aware of a Renault Clio travelling along Lockwood Road.

“They thought it was going a bit fast for the location and as a result stopped the driver.

“The officers formed the impression that she may have consumed some alcohol.”

Stringer was arrested and taken to the police station where she was breathalysed.

There it was revealed that she had 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Stringer had no previous convictions, the court was told.

She told magistrates that on the evening she had gone to pick up her friend up but decided to stay out instead.

Stringer said that she only had two pints before midnight and didn’t feel drunk.

She added: “I was over the limit, but I didn’t know that.

“It was the most stupid, irresponsible thing I’ve ever done.”

As well as banning her from driving, magistrates ordered her to pay £100 fine, £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.