A CARDIGAN woman who crashed her car while over the drink-drive limit had decided to drive because of her “flight reaction”, magistrates have heard.

Sarah Bowling, of 6 Trenchard Estate, Parcllyn, admitted drink-driving on 16 September after her car hit a verge, skidded across the road and ploughed through a hedge and into a field.

But magistrates in Aberystwyth heard that Bowling had only decided to drive as she has a strong “flight reaction” and had been concerned that trouble might arise while she was with her estranged husband.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said police attended the crash on the A487 at around 7.30pm where they saw Bowling, 29, receiving treatment for a cut to her elbow.

Ms Tench said Bowling smelt of alcohol and her eyes were glazed. She told police officers that she knew she would be over the drink-drive limit as she had drunk wine.

A breath test showed Bowling had 58 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Bowling told officers that she had shared a bottle of wine with her estranged husband, but decided to drive to a friend’s home after he “started to turn”.

Defence solicitor Iestyn Davies said Bowling, who he said had been “open and honest” with police, was remorseful for the incident and realised she shouldn’t have driven.

He said: “She knows it was wrong to drive and is very sorry.”

Mr Davies said a driving ban meant that Bowling was likely to have to move house.

Bowling was banned from driving for a year by magistrates and will pay a fine of £120 and costs totalling £115.