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Driver got pie-eyed after losing way to AA meeting
THE wife of an award-winning pork pie maker was caught drunk behind the wheel of her Mercedes after downing two bottles of wine because she could not find her way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Jane Hofmann suffered a relapse when she could not find her way to the support group in Pontefract.
Hofmann, 39, wife of award-winning pork pie maker, Nigel Hofmann, 42, who lives in a sprawling country farm, was described by police who pulled her over as the most intoxicated drink-driver they had ever encountered.
She was five times over the legal limit.
Wakefield Magistrates Court was told two officers saw Hofmann driving her silver Mercedes 4x4 with personalised number plate J4 HOF. She didn't have the lights switched on.
She was seen speeding up, slowing down and weaving around in the face of oncoming traffic on the A645 near her home village of Sharlston, Wakefield on September 1.
Police flashed their lights, but Hofmann continued drifting over the centre line on the road and mounting kerbs.
When stopped, she was so drunk she was unable to switch the engine off and had to be helped to the police car, where she drifted in and out of consciousness.
One of the PCs said Hofmann, who sobbed throughout the 45-minute hearing, was the "drunkest he had seen in his whole career as a police officer."
At a previous hearing, Hofmann admitted driving over the prescribed limit.
Robert Howard, mitigating, said: "This lady realised she had a problem with drink earlier this year and went to recovery.
"She was trying to go to an AA meeting in Pontefract. She was not over the limit, but became frustrated and upset because she could not find the meeting and had a relapse.
"She bought two bottles of wine from Morrison's, parked up 400 yards from home and consumed the alcohol.
"She then stupidly tried to drive that relatively short distance home."
Hofmann was given a 12-month supervision order, a 16-week curfew with an electronic tag and was disqualified from driving for three years. She was also ordered to pay 60 costs and will attend a drink-driver rehabilitation scheme.
Sentencing her, Dr Hazel Chowcat said: "We could have sent you to prison but the reason why we are not is because of your previous good character. I know you are upset but your actions were entirely irresponsible. You could have killed yourself and other road users."
The Hofmann's chain of butchers was established in 1896 and has won awards for pies and sausages.
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