Swedish Caroline Martinsson got drunk and crashed her car (Image: Caroline Martinsson/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
A Swedish blonde motorist who drunkenly crashed her car told a court she was zooming to confront her unfaithful lover over a secret affair. Caroline Martinsson, 33, lost control of her Vauxhall Astra and ploughed into a wall last month in Northwich, Cheshire, as she drove to meet her partner, following claims she was being cheated on.
Chester Magistrates Court heard the car firm worker caused “significant” damage to the wall but drove off and eventually dumped the vehicle in a nearby street before police found her stood in a field with – tests showed she was one and a half times the alcohol limit. Martinsson admitted drink driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident, was banned from the road for 16 months, fined £769 with £393 in costs and a victim surcharge.
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But she explained how she only jumped into her car and drove after hearing about the cheating claims during a sleepover at a friend’s house – which left her “emotional” and “flustered”.
Prosecutor Val Tonkinson said: “At approximately 9.15pm the defendant was driving a grey Vauxhall Astra, which crashed into a front garden causing significant damage to the property.
“(She) then made off from the scene. A PC Booth located the vehicle and saw the damage. The defendant was standing a short distance away in a field.
“Officers searched the vehicle and an open bottle of vodka was in the rear.”
Tests showed Martinsson – who has a Swedish driving licence – had 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35mg. She gave no comment in police interview.
Chris Hunt, defending, said: “She had gone to her friend’s house and had a couple of drinks. She anticipated staying overnight and had no intention to drive.
“However, while at her friend’s house, some highly emotional situation came about involving infidelity on the part of her partner.
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Caroline Martinsson arriving at court (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
“She was so flustered about what she discovered she went to go and confront her partner over it. She reacted without the thought of alcohol. She thought she was ok to drive. That soon became apparent that was incorrect.
“Another vehicle drove close to her, she panicked and swerved and hit the wall. Lots of people came out and opened the doors. She was very scared. It was late at night and she drove around the corner as she was frightened.
“When police spoke to her she was fully cooperative, she has not prevaricated. She has never been before the courts before.
“She is a working woman and a positive influence in the community. She is not a criminal. She works in the motoring trade and has held a clean driving licence for 14 years.
“It was clearly a mistake on her part. She has no previous convictions, she is genuinely remorseful.”
JPs gave Martinsson the option of taking the drink drive rehabilitation course which if completed will reduce the ban by a quarter.
Magistrate chair Ian Williams said: “It is fair to say you were driving erratically.”