Magistrates have warned a drink-driving pensioner to take taxis and buses for the next 15 months after banning her from the road.

Marilyn Lawrie, of Smoke House Quay, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, July 10.

The court heard that Lawrie, 73, was stopped by police while driving her Fiat 500 along Nelson Quay, Milford Haven Marina, at 11.10am on June 22.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “It looks like a routine stop. The officer says he could smell intoxicants on her breath.”

A roadside breath-test was positive and Lawrie was found to have 51mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Mark Layton, defending, said: “She had taken a drink earlier in the morning. She did not think she would be over the limit. If she had, she would not have driven.

“She was cooperative at the roadside and at the police station.”

Magistrates banned Lawrie from driving for 15 months and fined her £461 for her ‘little escapade’.

She was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £47 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “You committed a very serious offence.”

He added: “You are going to have to take taxis and buses for the next 15 months.”