A GRANDMOTHER aged 59 has been jailed after "appalling" drink-driving on the A38 near Plymouth.

The city's Crown Court heard professional carer Elaine Clarke, drank a large quantity of wine before setting out to drive to a friend's house in her Vauxhall Corsa.

She was spotted travelling at speeds of up to 90mph on the A38 near Smithaleigh.

She was weaving in and out of all three lanes and a van driver had to brake to avoid her.

She then rammed a Ford Mondeo three times from behind before swerving towards the central reservation and back on to a nearside grass verge, where the Corsa flipped on to its roof and landed in a ditch.

Prosecutor Alistair Verheijen said Clarke was taken to Derriford Hospital's accident and emergency department, where a blood sample was taken.

This revealed that in 100ml of blood she had 170 microgrammes of alcohol – more than twice the legal limit of 80.

He said the Mondeo driver David Bone and his passenger Kay Kelly, from Newton Abbot, had suffered whiplash injuries and ongoing pain and other effects.

The Mondeo was written off and Mr Bone told the police: "I believed I would die in the accident. She could have killed herself, us and other drivers."

Mr Verheijen said Clarke, of Bowers Park Road, Woolwell, had no previous convictions or cautions, and had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink-driving.

Kelly Scrivener, for Clarke, told the court: "She is very sorry about the incident, caused by her alcohol intake and bad driving.

"It has deeply affected her."

Miss Scrivener said her client had an exemplary driving record over 22 years, had never been prosecuted for speeding and was previously a cautious driver.

Prior to going out, she had been upset by a phone call from her father, who was ill and had been nursed by her.

Miss Scrivener said Clarke would be vulnerable in prison.

She had no intention of driving ever again and would never trouble the court in future, she said.

The judge, recorder Henry Martineau, told Clarke: "When you took the wheel of your car that night you had never put a foot or a wheel wrong. But on that night you drove appallingly.

"Your speed was about 90mph, and the faster you drive the greater the likely consequences.

"You let your passions get the better of your judgement.

"Your driving that day was so awful that it would be wrong to suspend sentence."

Recorder Martineau jailed Clarke for 12 months, banned her for three years and ordered her to take an extended test before regaining her licence.