A former PCSO caught drink-driving for the second time had been struggling with the isolation of working from home, a court heard.

Police were made aware that Laura Crears, 41, was driving a BMW in Workington while under the influence of alcohol on the afternoon of August 23.

She was followed by police onto Peter Street where she was pulled over, Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Crears ‘struggled to understand the officer at times’. The defendant was asked when she had last had a drink and she said the night before.

Crears was breathalysed and gave a reading of 46mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

After being arrested, Crears asked if it could be sorted without going to custody but the officer placed her into the vehicle and took her to the police station. She gave a reading of 42mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath while in custody.

Ms Fee said the defendant had been given a suspended prison sentence in May 2018 for drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Crears, of Stainburn Road, Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with alcohol level above the limit.

Simon Collingham, defending, said: “Ms Crears is deeply remorseful. She is deeply ashamed of her behaviour. She feels like she has messed everything up.

“She accepts full responsibility for her actions.

“She was giving services to the public for a number of years. She loved that job deeply. She has been working as an admin officer. She’s had difficulties with working from home, feeling isolated.

“She is a single mother. She has repsonsibilty of a nine-year-old son. This is a woman who is going to have significant difficulties moving on.”

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Leswyn McCallum said the offence was aggravated by the previous drink-driving conviction.

Crears was banned from driving for 36 months. She was fined £346 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £138 surcharge to fund victim services.