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Police were waiting at drink-driving mum's Hythe home after tip-off

By: KentOnline Court Reporter news@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 03 December 2022

A mum-of-two was almost four times the legal alcohol limit when she pulled up at home and found the police waiting for her after they were tipped off.

Jade Coupland, 35, from Hythe, had earlier dropped her daughter at dance class before taking her to a friend's house for a sleepover.

Jade Coupland, from Hythe, admitted drink-driving when she appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court

She then went to meet a friend at the pub, as her son was due to be with his father.

However, after downing drinks, Coupland decided to drive her VW Golf home.

When she parked up in her street, the police were waiting for her.

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Coupland, of Seabrook Road, had driven home at about 6.45pm on October 20 and officers had been tipped off she may have been drink-driving.

They witnessed her park, get out of the Golf and go inside her home. They followed her and asked her to do a breath test.

Jade Coupland, from Hythe, has been banned from the road for 29 months

Coupland gave a reading of 135 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

She was arrested and charged with drink-driving. She admitted the offence when she appeared before magistrates in Folkestone on Wednesday.

The court heard no one else was in the car when she parked up and that Coupland had a clean licence.

Julie Farbrace prosecuting said: "Officers saw her pull up and go to her house. She tested positive and blew a reading of 135 in breath.

"There was no interview and she's of previous good character."

Jade Coupland, from Hythe, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Wednesday

Magistrates were told she hadn't intended to spend that long at the pub and drink so much.

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But she had been relaxing as it was rare for her to get night off from looking after her children.

Coupland admits she made a big mistake driving the half-a-mile or so home that evening.

The court also heard she didn't usually drink to excess and never drinks in front of her children.

Magistrates banned her from the road for 29 months and placed her on a 12-month community order.

She will need to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and complete 25 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

She was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

If she completes a drink-driving course, her ban will be reduced by a quarter.

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