A WOMAN from Caergwrle who was caught three times over the drink-drive limit was suffering from a number of personal problems.

Alison Vernon left a social gathering with friends because she was so distressed that her hearing problems meant she was unable to join in the conversation.

North East Wales Magistrates Court heard Vernon “felt her life was falling apart” as she had also run up £14,000 of debts from credit card undertakings and divorce proceedings.

Vernon was said to have “lost track” of the amount she had drunk and she smelt strongly of alcohol when she was pulled up by police on Hope Street in Caergwrle.

A breath test showed she had consumed 103mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35.

She admitted drink driving on October 27.

The court heard Vernon, 54, had suffered 70 per cent hearing loss.

“This is a lady who has had a number of things to deal with,” defence solicitor Melissa Griffiths told the Mold court.

Magistrates banned Vernon from the road for 23 months and fined her £300 while ordering her to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.