AN 85-YEAR-old pensioner believed to be the oldest female drink driver has insisted she feels she has done nothing wrong.

Former school caretaker Betty Teague was banned from driving after failing a roadside breath test on the A27.

The Shoreham grandmother-of-nine said the stress had made her ill while neighbours said the crime was “out of character”.

But police warned her drink-driving was “totally unacceptable” and could have caused an accident.

Mrs Teague, of The Burrells in Shoreham, was asked to pick up her 21-year-old grandson on April 12 after he had drunk too much to drive.

She drove him home to Upper Sompting where her daughter offered her a “very small” vodka and coke.

Officers spotted her driving slowly westbound on the A27 with no lights on.

She was arrested after a breath test revealed 100 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood – above the legal limit of 80 milligrammes.

Mrs Teague admitted drink-driving at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on July 3.

She was fined ÂŁ73, ordered to pay victim surcharge of ÂŁ20, court costs of ÂŁ85 and banned from driving for 12 months.

Mrs Teague said afterwards: “I am not an alcoholic and I am not a big drinker.

“I can have one drink and it will have no affect on me whatsoever.

“I know what my limit is.

“I don’t think I have done anything wrong.

“I didn’t think I was over the limit when the police stopped me.

“This has all had a terrible effect on me, I can’t sleep. It’s all very distressing.”

Neighbour Roger Wilson, 68, said: “I think it could only be a one-off lapse because that is right out of character, she is a good member of society.”

Superintendent Jane Derrick 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 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."