A Tidworth woman who took out numerous road signs while three times over the drink drive limit has been banned from driving.

Natalie Burwood, from Talavera Way, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on February 4. The offence occurred in October last year in Tidworth.

The 36-year-old was disqualified from driving for three years, as well as being ordered to pay costs.

Police said that Burwood’s actions had “put members of the public at risk” in the “shocking” incident.

The offence took place on Saturday, October 17 2020, when PC Emma Smith was on patrol in Pennings Road, Tidworth. During her rounds, she saw a Volkswagen Caddy van driving towards her with no headlights on, no front numberplate and with sparks coming from underneath the vehicle.

After pulling Burwood over, PC Smith found a road sign was wedged underneath the vehicle, which had been causing sparks as it scraped along the road. An inspection of the local area revealed that the van had mounted the curb and taken out various road work signs which had been in place for work on the A338.

There was very nearly a more serious accident, as the van had only narrowly avoided hitting a set of traffic lights.

Burwood was breathalysed at the scene, giving a result of 152 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35, and so she was arrested at the scene.

Back at the police station, Burwood was breathalysed again, this time giving a reading of 121 micrograms, or three-and-a half times over the drink drive limit. As a result, she was charged with drink driving.

She appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on February 4, where she pleaded guilty t the offence, She was disqualified from driving for three years, fined £224 and ordered to pay costs of more than £100.

Following the sentencing, PC Emma Smith said: "The actions of this driver on this occasion no doubt put members of the public at risk.

"She provided an evidential reading of over three and and half times the legal limit which is shocking.

"This court result reflects the seriousness of drink driving and hopefully will give the defendant time to reflect on what happened which could have had much more serious consequences."