Depressed mum in court

Bexhill resident Caroline Freeman's Vauxhall Vectra was spotted 'weaving from side-to-side' along De La Warr Road at around 1am on September 9.

A worried motorist following the vehicle noticed 'sparks coming from the front near side wheel', accompanied by a smell of burning and 'a loud scraping which could be heard over the sound of the stereo'.

Last Thursday (November 2), Hastings magistrates heard how the driver drove in front of her vehicle and blocked her way near the roundabout outside Ravenside Retail Park, forcing her to stop.

But he was forced to call the police after the 36-year-old Alder Gardens Resident drove around him and parked outside Tesco's supermarket, taking her six and seven year old children inside.

Police officers met Freeman as she left the store. They reported her speech was 'slurred' and she 'shore and shouted at officers' when they asked for a breath test.

Her blood-alcohol reading was 168mg in 100ml of blood, more than twice the 80mg limit.

Ronan Crummy, defending, claimed Freeman 'went downhill rapidly' following the break-up of her marriage in February.

He said: "She has no recollection of what happened or how it happened.

"She's a shadow of her former self. But she's lucky to have a close-knit family to look after her because she certainly needs it.

"You could say something positive has come out of this, as it has jogged the agencies into action and Crisis Response and other agencies are now helping her through her depression."

Freeman pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, and received a two-year suspended sentence and a 20-month driving ban. She was also ordered to pay 60 in court costs.