Fatal crash mother was over limit

A mother is facing jail after admitting she was more than twice over the drink-drive limit in a car accident which killed her teenage daughter.

A mother is facing jail after admitting she was more than twice over the drink-drive limit in a car accident which killed her teenage daughter.

Magistrates in Colchester, Essex, were told a blood test on Wendy Jipson, 42, after the crash in March showed she had 133 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milligrams of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs. Michael Fraser, prosecuting, said the most likely level at the time of the crash would have been 170mgs.

The Ford Escort lost control on a bend which had standing water, and hit a telegraph pole, leaving 17-year-old Julia Kettle with fatal injuries, the court heard. Mrs Jipson, who worked at a pub, told police she had been driving too fast and water on the road had been a factor. She was under the 60mph speed limit, Mr Fraser said.

Mrs Jipson, from Lawford, near Colchester, who has four other children, admitted drink-driving and having no car insurance. Magistrates adjourned the case until September for reports and warned her prison would be an option. On Wednesday, an inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death on Julia.