MOTORIST Lel Boulton claimed fears for her friend's safety prompted her to drive while over the alcohol limit.

The 43-year-old Melksham woman said she drove her friend's car to help her escape her threatening ex-partner.

Boulton, of Padfield Gardens, Melksham, admitted drink-driving, and driving without a licence or insurance when she appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Thursday.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said police stopped Boulton in a Vauxhall Cavalier in Semington Road, Melksham, at 10pm on January 12 because it had a defective back light.

She said: "When they spoke to the driver they noticed her breath smelled of alcohol."

Boulton failed a roadside breath test and was taken to Melksham police station where she gave an alcohol reading of 51mg per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Andrew Eddy, defending, said Boulton had been in a pub with her friend when the friend's ex-partner came in and started causing trouble, so the pair went back to the friend's house.

There they found the door had been damaged and Boulton suggested they went to her home for safety, with Boulton driving her friend's car.

Mr Eddy said: "She is extremely sorry for being in court. She has been a victim of domestic violence in the past and felt very emotional about the whole situation."

Boulton was fined £110 and banned for 16 months for drink-driving. She was fined £75 for driving without insurance and ordered to pay a total of £35 costs.