Drink-driver who crashed into substation sentenced

A drink-driver who crashed a car into an electrical substation causing a fire and widespread power cuts has been sentenced.

Hayley Booth, 32, was arrested in July near Bawtry, South Yorkshire, and was found to be nearly three times over the drink-drive limit.

Officers said her "dangerous and foolish" decision to drive plunged half of Bawtry town centre into darkness and she was lucky nobody was injured.

Booth, of Oxford Avenue, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while above the legal limit at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on 12 August and was handed a 12-month community order and must complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

She was also disqualified from driving for two years and two months and must take an extended test before getting her licence back.

After her arrest, South Yorkshire Police said a breathalyser test showed Booth had 99 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed legal limit of 35.

Sgt Chris Rogers, from the Doncaster South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "I'm glad she pleaded guilty and took responsibility for her actions.

"Alcohol is one of the four main contributors to fatal and serious collisions in South Yorkshire and I hope this sentencing serves as a stern reminder that we will not tolerate dangerous drivers taking to our roads and putting people's lives at risk."

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