FALSE allegations of sexual assault caused a former mobile phone store manager to turn to drink.

Abigail Dunn, 29, of Church Lane, Wingfield, was wrongly accused of indecently assaulting two women in 2001, and the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

At Chippenham magistrates' court on Friday, solicitor Alex Daymond said false allegations had caused Dunn to become depressed and turn to alcohol, resulting in a car crash near Staverton in December.

The court heard how Dunn's Ford Ka spun off the Staverton causeway, rolled into a ditch and landed upside down, leaving her trapped with a broken sternum and concussion.

Rhys Davies, prosecuting, said paramedics rescued Dunn from the car and police took a roadside breath sample, which showed she was over the drink-drive limit.

Dunn was taken to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, for treatment, but refused to give a blood sample when asked to by police. Dunn admitted a charge of failing to provide a specimen of blood to officers for testing.

Talking about the impact the false allegations had on her life, Mr Daymond said: "Even when it was discontinued she suffered a long period of depression and by her own admission was drinking heavily, culminating in this accident."

On December 20, the night of the accident, Dunn had been at a friend's house drinking wine. Driving home, she lost control of her car on a straight stretch of road just past the river bridge outside Nestle.

Mr Daymond added paramedics said black ice could have been to blame for Dunn losing control of the car.

Magistrates banned her from driving for 15 months, fined her £100 and ordered her to pay £35 costs.