Drink-driver banned following caravan park crash

Her friend and four other people were in the car at the time. No one was injured.

Unemployed Kristiane Larsson, 36, crashed her silver Ford Focus at 1am on Saturday, May 23, while on a weekend break at Bunn Leisure Caravan Park in West Sands, Selsey.

Chairman Peter Monk sentenced Larsson to 100 hours of community service and ordered her to attend a ten-session rehabilitation course. Larsson was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £295 in costs.

Mr Monk said: “It could have been far far more serious as I’m sure you realise. This matter, while one huge error in judgement, is being considered as a one off.”

He added that he did not think it appropriate to send Larsson to prison.

A roadside breath test found her to have 98 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath.

Ann Deakin, prosecuting, told the court how a witness saw Larsson drink several glasses of wine and spirits while at a bar on the caravan site. Larsson’s speech was slurred and she had trouble standing.

When the witness saw the lights of Larsson’s car flash he told her that she could not drive as she was drunk. She replied, ‘it’s okay, it’s only a caravan park’.

Around ten seconds later the witness said he heard a crash and a sliding sound. He ran around the corner and found the Ford Focus on its side.

The emergency services were called to the scene.

Mark Rogers, defending, said it appeared the car had gone over a parking bollard and turned on to its side.

He said Larsson’s caravan was only a five to ten minute walk from the bar.

“When she left the caravan club she made the foolish decision to drive back,” he said. “She’s extremely thankful that despite this horrendous incident there was no physical harm to other people.

“She says she accepts it was irresponsible, foolish and was a terrible error of judgment.”

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