Drink driver who “lunged” at police in Staveley was “her own worst enemy”

Melissa Piggott, 33, was stopped by officers in Staveley after her Mercedes car was seen “sideways” across a Poolsbrook junction.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard the mum-of-one had drunk “one large bottle of Stella” - tipping her just over the alcohol limit during a roadside breath test.

Prosecutor Sarah Haslam told how as police were dealing with Piggott when she became “obstructive”.

As police officers tried to remove a cigarette from her mouth she “lunged” at them, falling over, and was arrested.

At the police station - over half-an-hour later - Piggott refused to provide a second breath sample.

Her solicitor Matthew Hague described his client as “very foolish on the day in question” - adding: “One would imagine she would have certainly been under the limit by a considerable amount.

“She is her own worst enemy - I would submit she is of limited intelligence and has not grasped the consequences of her actions.

“She must have thought ‘it will be OK because I’m under the limit after one bottle of Stella’.”

Magistrates heard how Piggott had one previous conviction for failing to give a specimen of breath in 2006.

Piggott, of St Michaels Crescent, Ecclesfield, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

A magistrate described the incident as an “unfortunate situation”.

She was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £162 and made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £735 court costs.

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