Coronation Street Star Sue Cleaver Banned From Driving

Sue Cleaver Coronation Street actress,has been banned from driving for 17 months after she was caught nearly twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

The 46-year-old, who plays taxi operator Eileen Grimshaw in the soap, was stopped in Northenden, Manchester, when her car ran into the kerb. Cleaver admitted driving with excess alcohol when she appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court. She was also ordered to pay a £1,000 fine after the incident on 29 March. The actress was driving a Land Rover Freelander when she was stopped in Palatine Road, just a mile from her Didsbury home, in the early hours.

Cleaver told the court that her "spur-of-the-moment decision" to drive at night "could not have been more out of character".

Kerry Bell, prosecuting, said she was stopped by police at 0140 BST when her vehicle collided with the nearside kerb. She was breathalysed at the scene and gave a positive alcohol breath reading. She was then taken to the police station and gave a further reading of 63mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mg.

Richard Silver, defending, said Cleaver had entered a guilty plea at the first possible moment. "She is highly ashamed and deeply embarrassed to find herself before the court today and she wants to apologise for what she has done," he said.

Chairman of the bench, the Reverend Andrew Braunston, told Cleaver: "We recognise you have had a clean licence for 20 years, you have had a good character, you have co-operated with the police and your early guilty plea. "However, this is a serious offence and you were verging on being twice the limit."

A 17-month driving ban was imposed which will be reduced to 13 months after Cleaver completes a drink-drive awareness course. Cleaver, of The Circuit, was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Wednesday 14th April 2010 - Source BBC News