A GIRL who hit the headlines in January last year by becoming the nation’s youngest drink-driver at the age of 12 has been caught for a second time.
On Monday, Newbury magistrates heard that she had flouted the ban handed down then by being caught a second time in almost identical circumstances.
Carol Tod, prosecuting, said the girl, who can not be named for legal reasons, had been drinking beer at a family friend’s house.
She added: “Her parents found that their car keys were missing - and they then noticed the car was missing.”
The girl’s parents called police, who found she had been driving along main roads around Newbury including the main A4. Tests later showed 44 mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
The girl admitted taking a vehicle without consent, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and drink driving between February 13 and February 14 this year. Ian Campbell, defending, said: “It is very difficult in a crowded party situation to keep watch on a 14-year-old girl and what she might be doing in terms of drinking.”
Adjourning the case for reports, magistrate Timothy Goss told the girl: “These are very serious offences.
“You are flouting court orders - this did not happen long after your previous conviction.
“We are considering sending you to detention.”
In committing the latest offences the girl was in breach of a 12 month supervision order. She has already spent time in detention and her previous convictions include burglary and criminal damage.
Last May the Newbury Weekly News exclusively reported how the girl became Britain’s youngest drink driver after committing the offence aged 12. The case later made national newspaper and television headlines.
On that occasion, too, she took her parents’ car after drinking at a family party.
Police who stopped the car on Christmas Day were stunned to find the child behind the wheel, reeking of alcohol. She had been veering across the carriageway and had clipped the kerb before being stopped.
On that occasion she received a 12-month supervision order and was banned from driving for two years.
