A DRUNK mum who was found asleep at the wheel four times over the limit has been spared jail after claiming she had parked to watch Netflix.
Jessica Matthew, 26, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle but denied that she had driven while intoxicated.
Cops found her unconscious in the car on 15 July at the Sandbrook retail park after being called by worried shoppers, who feared she had suffered a fatal collapse.
However, she was quickly woken and complained of feeling dizzy while slurring her words.
One of the officers also noticed a bottle of gin and tonic on the passenger seat.
Ms Matthew, a travel agent with a two-year-old son, returned a breath test result of 136 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, compared to the legal limits of 35.
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In a statement to Tameside Magistrates' Court, she said: "When I drink I can't stop drinking."
However, she denied driving drunk and insisted that she had only started to drink after parking up, while watching a film on Netflix.
Prosecutor Shazad Alam said: "At around 5.45pm that evening, witness Nicole McArthur noticed the defendant sleeping in her small hatchback with her head resting on the wheel.
"'Miss MacArthur tried to speak to the defendant and banged on the car window a number of times to no avail. The car engine was on and the defendant was wearing her seatbelt.
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The defendant appeared in court with her leg in plaster due to an unrelated injury, which the court heard had prevented her from working and made her dependent on benefits and her father.
Defending, Vic Wozny said: "Her intention was not to drive the vehicle whilst drunk and the vehicle was only on so she could charge her phone whilst watching a film on her phone.
"She is now seeking help from three organisations to recover from her drinking problem. She has shown full remorse throughout."
He added that she had no previous convictions and had previously had unsuccessful spells in rehab.
She was slapped with a £200 fine and £165 costs, as well as a 12-month driving ban.
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Sentencing her, the panel of magistrates told her "We have thought about this long and hard and given your previous good character, the kind of work you have done up to this point and your personal circumstances we do not deem it necessary to give you a community sentence.
"However, If this ever happens again you won’t get a second chance."
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