Teenager banned from driving after crashing car while drink-driving following England's World Cup exit

A teenage drink-driver crashed her new car after watching England lose to Argentina in this summer's World Cup semi-final, a court was told.

Newly qualified driver Anya Hughes, 18, smashed her Mini Cooper into a Fiat 500 on Churchill Way in Macclesfield after leaving a pub at 10.30pm on July 15. She ran away from the scene, leaving the damaged vehicle behind.

Police traced her through the Mini's registration number and called her back. She returned 30 minutes later, failed a breath test and was arrested. Tests at Middlewich custody suite showed she had 41 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Hughes, a former care assistant from Smallwood Court, Congleton, had only passed her driving test in May.

What did the court hear?

Prosecutor Teri O'Brien said: "The defendant has no previous convictions, but the offence is aggravated by the fact that she was involved in a collision."

Her solicitor Peter Barnett said: "She was drinking in a public house when it was the final England game where they lost. She then made a foolish decision to drive."

He added: "The accident was caused by her foot coming off the clutch as opposed to impaired judgement from the drink. She apologises for her behaviour and making a foolish decision."

Barnett told Chester Magistrates' Court that Hughes had lost her job as a carer because she could no longer drive, having given up the car and cancelled the insurance.

What was the sentence?

Hughes was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120 with £133 in costs. She was offered a place on a drink-driving awareness course, which can reduce the ban.

JP Miss Fiona Crane told her: "It will be up to the DVLA when you get your licence back. Due particularly to your age, they may want you to do another driving test."