A woman has been banned from the roads after driving under the influence to confront her ex-partner over claims he was having an affair. Stephie Hastie, 35, was found by police outside the homes of her former partner and another woman, banging on their doors and demanding answers. She was initially placed in the back of a patrol car to calm down, but became aggressive again after spotting the other woman in the street.
Officers said she started shouting and had to be restrained, before later being arrested. She was later found to be over the legal alcohol limit. Hastie, from Macclesfield, admitted drink driving and assaulting an emergency worker during a hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court. She was disqualified from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay a £320 fine, plus £213 in costs and a victim surcharge, Manchester Evening News reported. The incident happened on the evening of February 4 this year.
Prosecutor Mr Kassem Noureddine told the court: “Miss Hastie attended her ex-partner’s address. She banged on the door and went across the road to where his new partner lived and banged on her door too.
“While initially placed in the back of the police vehicle, she has not stayed calm and required a caged vehicle.
“Officers smelled alcohol and decided to arrest her. As they went to arrest her she became violent.
“Whilst handcuffs were placed on her she kicked out and made contact with the thigh area of the officer.”
She later provided a breath sample showing 55 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Hastie was listed as a former managing director of a care firm but is still working as a carer.
Her solicitor, Taryn Reay, said the offence stemmed from emotional distress.
“She was sadly before today a lady of good character,” Ms Reay told the court. “She found out her partner was cheating on her. She was distraught and let her emotions and the alcohol she had drunk earlier take over.”
Ms Reay said Hastie became upset after seeing the other woman on the street and claimed she was trying to confront her, not the police.
“The officers tried to grab her by the arms to drag her out of the police car and that is when she was kicked out,” she added. “It is no excuse but it was a trigger for Miss Hastie.”
The court also heard Hastie cares for her elderly father full time and has also suffered domestic abuse in the past.
“She really regrets her actions,” Ms Reay said. “To her credit, following this offence she is seeking other ways of coping other than alcohol.”