Sheffield woman involved in three-vehicle smash after celebrating birthday punished for drink-driving

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard today, September 16, how Sherrine Hale, aged 28, of Middle Hay Close, Sheffield, had been on Bramall Lane, Sheffield, when the collision happened.

Paul Canfield, prosecuting, said: “Officers were dispatched to a three-vehicle road traffic collision near to the entrance to the BP petrol station on Bramall Lane, Sheffield.

"In essence what happened was a Volkswagen Transporter vehicle stopped to let a vehicle out and another vehicle stopped behind the Transporter and the defendant was not able to stop in time and crashed into the second vehicle in the line of traffic and shunted that vehicle into the Transporter.”

Hale pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after she registered 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath after the incident on August 17 when the limit is 35 microgrammes.

Sal Alnoud, defending, said the defendant’s recollection is that the car in front of her impacted with the vehicle in front and then she went into the rear of the second vehicle and it was an accident.

He added: “It was her birthday and she went out with a friend but did not drink to excess and she thought she would be under the limit but unfortunately the drink the night before may have contributed to the reading.”

Magistrates fined Hale £200 and ordered her to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 costs. She was also banned from driving for 20 months but if she completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course the disqualification can be reduced by 25 percent.