Woman seen arguing on side of A47 Walpole Highway with man had been drink-driving

A woman who was seen on the side of a main busy road arguing with a man had been drink-driving.

Saima Skutel, 33, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where she admitted driving above the specified alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Asif Akram told the court that police received numerous calls from members of the public reporting seeing a couple arguing on the side of the A47 at Walpole Highway.

Members of the public also reported seeing a woman trying to stop a man running into the dual carriageway.

Officers arrived at the scene to find Skutel sat in the driver’s side of her car. Police reported that she had “looked like she had been drinking” and was struggling to spell her own name.

A roadside breath test was carried out which came back positive and she was arrested and taken to Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre for further tests.

Skutel gave a reading of 89mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

Her solicitor, George Sorrell, told the court that Skutel, who works as a shop assistant, had drank “out of desperation and to cope” at the time.

Mr Sorrell said: “It was a very bad day for her, she was having trouble with a man friend which led her to drink out of desperation and to cope.

“She is very upset about this court appearance.”

Skutel, of Draper Road in Peterborough, was disqualified from driving for 22 months and fined £276.

She will also pay a victim surcharge of £110 and court costs of £85.