A MUM was more than twice the drink-drive limit when she drove a car on the school run with four young children her passengers, a court has heard.

Sarah Howey, 39, of Upper Morannedd, Criccieth, Gwynedd, was stopped by police near her home after a tip-off, the prosecution said at Caernarfon court. Her breath-alcohol count was 92 and the legal limit is 35.

Howey admitted drink-driving on the afternoon of 9 December.

Magistrates’ chairman Keith Lycett told her: “This hasn’t been very easy for us to deal with. Your action of driving under the influence of drink with four children in the car at school coming home time is shocking to say the least.

The magistrate said the consequences could have been “horrendous.”

An eight weeks jail term was imposed, suspended for a year. “This will serve to remind you of what you were doing,” Mr Lycett added.

A four-year driving ban was also made and she has to pay £165 costs and attend drink-impaired drivers’ sessions.

Prosecutor Mel Hughes said police had been warned that she was going to a village primary school at Llanystumdwy to collect children while under the influence of alcohol.

Officers kept watch for a Citroen car and four children, aged twelve, ten, seven and two, were inside when it was stopped.

Mr Hughes said Howey was “obstructive.” She shouted and swore and dropped to the ground.

Her husband apologised to police for her behaviour.

Defence solicitor Nicola Jones said Howey had a row with her husband the day before and had been drinking into the early hours. Her husband had been driving the car to school when they again had an argument and he got out.

Mrs Jones said Howey thought she would be all right to drive and there was no accident.

“She apologises for her obstructive way when the police arrived. She is thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed. Everybody where she lived has seen this,” the solicitor remarked. “She’s had the humiliation and shame of being arrested in front of her neighbours and taken to the police station at Caernarfon. She says she doesn’t have any problems with alcohol or depression.”

There was a previous offence in 2008.

A probation officer said the housewife told him she had drunk three bottles of wine. She collected three children from the primary school and the oldest at the side of a road.