Meg Mathews has been banned from the roads for drink-driving.
The Britpop personality and author crashed her car while she was over more than twice the legal limit following a book signing.
The 57-year-old appeared before Cornwall Magistrates’ Court in Bodmin on Friday following the incident in Newquay earlier this month.
The court heard the former music PR professional had a ‘couple of drinks’ at a book launch on July 7 and planned to stay at a friend’s house nearby after.
Mathews then took her new Jeep Wrangler out for a spin on the request of the friend, who wanted to see it in action – but she soon crashed into a parked car causing minor damage.
The owner of the parked vehicle called police at around 9.15pm and Mathews failed a breath test and was arrested.
She had 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – with the legal limit being 35mg.
Mathews – ex-wife of Oasis’ Noel Gallagher – appeared in court by videolink and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit.
Steven Cox, defending, said Mathews was of previous good character and had promptly pleaded guilty.
‘She was at a book signing and a number of people turned up,’ he said.
‘It was the first time she had spoken publicly for a number of years and she was quite nervous, and they offered her a couple of drinks.
‘Unfortunately, those drinks were not pub-level drinks and were not measured properly and they had a lot more alcohol in them than she originally thought.
‘At the end of the evening she attempts to stay at her friend’s house, which is literally just round the corner from where they were.
‘Her friend asked to see her car first because it is a new car, and she hadn’t seen it. They went round to look at the vehicle and it was at that point she made the stupid decision to drive.
‘She said she reached the first bend and that’s where she clipped the car causing minor damage, scrapes, there’s no serious body damage.
‘She stopped immediately, and the owner of the vehicle came out who had called the police. She was exchanging details when the police arrived.
‘They arrived, she blew over the limit and was arrested and taken into custody.
‘Unfortunately, some of the things that have been in the papers about her rolling on the ground and about her shouting never actually happened. It was a very simple drink-driving matter.
‘She was at the police station and she was upset because people at the scene were taking photos of her and she knew this would probably end up in the press.
‘She says she wants to extend her gratitude to the police officers who helped her get calm, got her a drink and helped her relax.
‘She said to me, “I take full responsibility and accountability for what I did, and I want to end by apologising again for you having to hear this case due to my bad judgment. I will never do this again”.’
It was said Mathews had ‘no actual salary’ but would be able to pay any fine and costs within 14 days, and was keen to complete the drink-driving rehabilitation course.
Mathews is banned driving for 20 months, fined £440 and ordered her to pay a £176 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
It would have been a few hundred pounds more if Mathews hadn’t pleaded guilty early on.
If Mathews completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course, her road ban will be reduced by 20 weeks.
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