An 85-year-old pensioner is believed to have become the oldest female drink driver in the country.

Betty Teague has been banned from driving for a year and left with a £178 bill to pay after failing a breath test.

Mrs Teague, of The Burrells in Shoreham, was arrested at 8.40pm on April 12 after officers found her driving slowly westbound on the A27 with no lights.

She failed a breath test which revealed she had 100 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood – above the legal limit of 80 milligrammes.

Mrs Teague pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday July 3 although details of the case were only released today by Sussex Police.

She was fined £73, ordered to pay victim surcharge of £20 and court costs of £85 as well as being banned from driving for 12 months.

Sussex Police said a total of 100 people have been charged with offences after being stopped in June as part of Operation Dragonfly, the force's crackdown on drink and drug-driving on the roads.

Superintendent Jane Derrick said the case proved that there was no such thing as a “typical drink-driver”.

She said: “We are catching people of all ages, of both sexes and of a range of backgrounds and occupations who think it is ok to risk their lives and the lives of other road users by having a drink and then getting behind the wheel.

"Teague could have easily caused an accident by the way she was driving but luckily we were able to stop her before that could happen and she is now banned from the roads for the next year.

"It is totally unacceptable to drink and drive. As far as we are concerned, one drink is one drink too many."

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs call 999.

 

See the latest crime figures in your area with our street-level crime map