A WOMAN crashed her car into a hedgerow while driving under the influence, after which she fell asleep in a nearby field.

Joanna Gregory, 35, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court accused with driving a Vauxhall Astra on the road with 87mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Gregory pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that on Wednesday, July 3, her car collided with a hedgerow on Bere Road in Winterborne Kingston.

Speaking for the prosecution, Jason Spellman said that the defendant drove the vehicle after having consumed a bottle of wine.

He said that Gregory, of Rochelle Court, Devizes, Wiltshire, collided with the hedgerow, after which she tried to move the car again.

When she attempted to get the car moving again, she damaged the clutch. As a result of this, she left the car at the hedgerow, went into a nearby field and fell asleep.

She was later found in that field by the police after they received calls to the scene.

Aileen Tring said that Gregory has been suffering with very severe depression, which had been leading her to drink.

She said: "On this particular day she can't really explain why she drove.

"This is something she is very ashamed of.

"This is not something that is going to happen again."

Tring said that Gregory had been fully co-operative with the police when they arrived at the scene.

She also added that Gregory is now living with her parents and has lost her job as a cleaner as a result of this incident.

Gregory was ordered to pay a £190 fine, as well as a £32 victim surcharge and £40 in costs, totalling to £262.

She was also disqualified from driving for twenty months, although she was offered to opportunity to reduce the length of the disqualification if she undertook and completed a drink driving course.

Chair Pamela Homer said said that Gregory should have done a community order, but that she would be fined.

She said: "You are disqualified from driving for twenty months. If you drive while disqualified, you will commit a serious offence."