A drug-driver who got stuck while going through McDonald’s drive-thru had taken her partner’s medication.
Police were called to attend McDonald’s drive-thru in Workington on April 23.
Laura Taylor, 40, was over the prescribed limit and was 'unfit to drive', Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant was with a male and had a young child with her. Taylor and the male were both unable to stand.
The vehicle stalled twice as Taylor went through the drive-thru and managed to get stuck, the court was told.
One of the officers who attended the scene said Taylor was swaying from side to side and kept falling over.
She was slurring her words, her eyes were rolling into the back of her head and she was foaming at the mouth, the court heard.
Taylor was crying that she wanted to see her child.
She was searched and two blister packs of Clonazepam were found. She said they were her partner’s.
A blood test showed she had 144mcg of Clonazepam per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50mcg.
Ms Fee said the defendant was 'clearly not fit to drive'.
John Cooper, defending, said: “It’s a first offence I have seen with this drug.
“It’s her partner’s medication. He told her it was a painkiller. She couldn’t get hers from the chemist.
“He said, ‘this is the same thing. You can take them.’
“She accepts she has taken them and then drove. By the time she got to the supermarket, they had knocked her for six.
“She had been working self-employed as a cleaner. She knows she has to be disqualified today.
“She is quite upset about it.
“It does appear to be a drug that most people would not know is an illegal drug.”
The defendant, of Yeathouse, Frizington, pleaded guilty to driving with a specified drug over the specified limit.
Taylor was banned from driving for 54 months. She was given a 12-month community order with 160 hours of unpaid work.
She must also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
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