A WOMAN whose excessive drinking made her crash outside a pub has said she never wants to drive again.

Rebecca Sparkes was more than double the drink driving limit when her Renault Clio struck a bollard outside the British Grenadier pub in Military Road, Colchester.

She was tracked down by police in nearby Old Heath Road with the help of witnesses and taken to hospital.

A blood test at Colchester General Hospital measured 172mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Colchester magistrates heard she had been out with friends before the collision in the early hours of January 8, and did not remember getting into the car or the journey.

During mitigation, duty solicitor Selena Dines explained Sparkes, 37, has a significant mental health condition and takes daily medication.

It was after being discharged from the mental health crisis team her drinking snowballed.

Ms Dines said: “She wasn’t getting the support and her level of drinking increased.

“She told me she never wants to drive again and has been having sleepless nights worrying about the consequences for what happened.”

Sparkes, 37, of Speedwell Road, Colchester, admitted driving while over the limit.

She was disqualified her from driving for 22 months and given £235 costs.