A KENDAL mother was banned from the wheel for more than a year after refusing to take a breath test.

According to a witness Gemma Ann Nicholson, of Cowan Head, Burneside, appeared to be "drunk" while driving her Porsche Cayenne but refused to provide a breath specimen when asked by police.

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court and was banned from driving for 17 months.

Lisa Hine, prosecuting, told the court Nicholson had been seen leaving the Jolly Anglers Inn, Burneside, before getting into her car on January 18.

A witness reported seeing the mother driving "slowly and erratically" and got the "impression" she was drunk.

The court heard that when police arrived at the defendant's house she refused to give a breath specimen twice despite being told it was an offence.

She was arrested and taken to the police station where she refused again.

Representing herself, Nicholson said she had arranged a celebratory family get together and went to look in the pub for her brother.

She told magistrates she had had a drink when she got home and admitted to being "petulant" with police.

The weeping defendant said she would never have done anything to "jeopardise" her licence as she would need to travel to see her terminally ill son.

Chairman of the bench Ian Skillen said he was required to give her the minimum ban for the offence.

Nicholson was disqualified from driving for 17 months but this can be reduced by 17 weeks if she completes a drink driver rehabilitation programme by December 4.

The defendant was given a community order of 12 months with a supervision requirement and she was ordered to pay a fine of £400, £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.