A DRINK-driver who was more than three times the limit crashed head-on with a mum driving her two young children after swerving into the wrong side of the road.

Josephine Wilkes caused a three car pile-up in Didcot after drinking a whole bottle of wine just two days before Christmas and getting behind the wheel of her red Renault Clio.

The 58-year-old, of Drake Avenue in Didcot, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with one count of drink-driving.

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Stood in the dock, she bowed her head as the charge was read out. She told the court she was guilty, then began to cry as details were read out by a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer.

Dana Patel told the court that at 5.50pm on December 23, Wilkes was driving on Wantage Road in Didcot when she crossed the central reservation into oncoming traffic.

Oxford Mail:

Moments later she then crashed head on into another car driven by a mum with her two young children in the back seats.

A third car then crashed into the back of them – causing a ‘very large’ collision.

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At the scene a police officer could ‘smell’ that Wilkes was probably over the limit, and she gave a breathalyser test at the scene.

After blowing more than three times the legal limit of 35mcg per 100ml of breath, she was driven to Abingdon Police Station – where the lesser of two breath readings was given as 122mcg in 100ml of breath.

Oxford Mail:

The maximum penalty for her offence was six months in prison and/ or an unlimited fine, with an obligatory driving ban.

Before her sentencing the magistrate stressed it was a ‘very serious’ reading.

Wilkes's defence team said that she ‘didn’t mean for it to happen’ and that she was drinking after going through a ‘really hard time’.

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The court then went away to decide whether to give her an alcohol rehabilitation course. However, she left with just a community order.

The courts ruled that she must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and attend 10 days of rehabilitation.

She must also pay a victim surcharge of £90 as well as court costs of £80. She has also been disqualified from driving for 29 months, but that will be reduced if she goes on a driving course.