The stifling environment of a struggling farm led to a Wolfscastle woman taking to the road while more than double the drink-drive limit.

Katy Eleanor Hickman, 41, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, May 15.

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, told the court that police officers noticed Hickman’s BMW being driven erratically on a road near her home at 12.30am on April 28, driving slowly and drifting across the road.

Hickman was stopped and found to have 90mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Aled Owen, defending, stated that Hickman, who was of previous clean character, had cooperated fully with officers, but disputed that she had veered across the road and had only driven a short distance.

He told the court her family had been going through a difficult time as their dairy farm was in difficulty.

“They have been trying to make a go of it and keep it going, but their efforts have failed.”

He added: “On the day in question, having drunk a bottle of wine with her husband that evening, she decided that the farm was a stifling environment for her.

“She wanted to go for a drive away from the property. She thought she would be okay, as she had food, but miscalculated the situation.”

“It was a single lapse in judgement, which will not be repeated.”

Magistrates fined Hickman £200 and ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £30 surcharge.

She was banned from driving for 23 months.