Saxmundham – Drink-driver disqualified from driving

A 37-year-old woman has been disqualified from driving after admitting drink-driving.

Rhian Berry, of Beech Road in the town, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 12 May, where she pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

The incident occurred around 10:30pm on 11 April 2025 when an officer on patrol on the High Street were passed by a black Nissan Qashqai being driven without its lights on.

The officer followed the vehicle to Beech Road where it was being driven in an erratic manner.

The vehicle was stopped and Berry - identified as the driver - claimed she had only consumed one alcoholic drink. She then failed a roadside breath test which indicated a reading of 65 micrograms of alcohol. She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre.

In custody the evidential reading was recorded as 60 micrograms, almost twice the legal limit, and Berry was charged with drink-driving.

She was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay costs and surcharges of £165 – making a total of £365 to be paid in total.