Jane Hofmann, 39, wife of award-winning pie maker, Nigel Hofmann, 42, who lives in a sprawling country farm, was caught an astonishing FIVE times over the legal limit when startled cops pulled her over.

Officers described her as the most intoxicated drink-driver they have come across in their entire careers.

Hofmann had 417mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood ' the legal limit is 80mg.

A court heard on Thursday that Hofmann was spotted by two cops driving her silver Mercedes 4x4 ' with personalised number plate J4 HOF ' initially without its lights on.

She was repeatedly speeding up and slowing down and weaving around in the road in the face of oncoming traffic in the shocking incident in her home village of Sharlston, West Yorks, on September 1.

Wakefield Magistrates Court was told that Hofmann, a self-confessed alcoholic, was on her way to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in nearby Pontefract but had become upset and fallen off the wagon.

Police spotted her on the A645 just yards away from her plush home at around 9.45pm and flashed their lights but initially to no effect as Hofmann continued drifting over the centre line on the road and mounting kerbs.

When they finally pulled her over she was so drunk that she was unable to switch the engine off and had to be assisted to the police car, where she drifted in and out of consciousness on the way to the station.
One of the PCs stated Hofmann, who sobbed throughout the 45-minute hearing, was the 'drunkest he had ever seen in his whole career as a police officer'.

She was transferred to hospital where a blood sample was taken and the
monumental reading was discovered. She pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to 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 could not take the wine home at that stage.

'She then stupidly tried to drive that relatively short distance home in that state.'

Sentencing Hofmann, magistrate 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 on that evening were entirely
irresponsible. You could have killed yourself and you could have killed other road users.'

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.

Locals in her home town revealed that her husband owns a prestigious
award-winning butcher's with four outlets, H Hofmann and Sons est 1896, in the surrounding area.

The well established local chain was created by Nigel Hofmann's great
grandfather, Harry Hofmann in 1896.

The successful butcher has earned many awards for his pie and sausage making skills.

Mrs Hofmann refused to comment after the case.