Melksham drink driver avoids jail after three offences in four months
49 year old Sarah Shott has also been banned from driving for 40 months
A Melksham woman, who was caught drink driving three times in four months, has been sentenced - but avoided jail.
49 year old Sarah Shott frpm Trent Crescent in Melksham, appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday (Tuesday 20th April).
She pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to provide a specimen for analysis and an additional charge of drink driving.
Shott has been given a six week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; and disqualified from driving for 40 months.
She's also required to attend six months of alcohol treatment.
What happened?
The first offence in Shott's series of drink driving incidents occurred on November 13th 2024, when a 999 call informed us that a green Vauxhall Mokka was swerving into opposite lanes, mounting the curb and had several near misses with oncoming traffic.
Soon after, another person called to report that the same car had crashed into a lamppost on Bath Road.
Shott was confirmed to be the driver and failed a roadside breath test at the scene. In custody, she made no effort to try and provide a specimen of breath.
Six days later, on November 19th, Shott was seen staggering out of a primary school and stalling her car numerous times while trying to pull away.
Officers attended and Shott also failed a roadside breath test on this occasion.
She was given several chances to provide a specimen of breath in custody but failed to do so.
Her vehicle, with two children on board, was then stopped in Trent Crescent on March 20th, where she admitted to having consumed alcohol before getting into the car.
Shott failed a roadside breath test for the third time and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
PC Luke Hosken said: "Shott persistently drove after drinking alcohol and it is clear from her continued offending that she had no regard for the safety of herself, her passengers or other road users.
"The impact even a small amount of alcohol has on your ability to drive competently and safely can be fatal.
"Last November, Shott crashed her car during school pickup hours and the risk she posed to the public was enormous. It's a relief that no one was injured by her reckless actions.
"This lengthy disqualification and real threat of imprisonment should serve as a strong deterrent to any consideration of further drink driving from Shott."