A driver who was stopped for erratic driving by police in Stoke claimed the smell of alcohol was due to cooking beef bourguignon, a court was told. Victoria Chesworth was seen swerving between lanes in her Toyota Yaris on London Road before being pulled over. Despite not being able to complete a breathalyser test, a drug test at the police station revealed she was driving over the legal limit.

At the North Staffordshire Justice Centre, it was disclosed that Chesworth had significantly high levels of cocaine and its breakdown product, benzoylecgonine, in her blood. In her defense, Chesworth stated that the officers mistook the smell of wine for alcohol because she had prepared a beef bourguignon dish earlier.

According to the prosecutor, Sherrie Henry, the incident took place late at night when officers observed the defendant’s car swerving on the road before stopping her. Chesworth admitted to two charges of drug-driving and expressed financial and transportation difficulties due to her driving ban.

During the court proceedings, Chesworth tearfully explained that her driving behavior was influenced by following the one-way system and feeling pressured by a vehicle behind her. She attributed the presence of alcohol smell to her cooking activities and struggled with the breath test due to a previous stroke. The white powder found in her car was identified as medication for managing her stroke symptoms.

Magistrates imposed a 17-month driving ban on Chesworth along with a 12-month community order requiring 20 rehabilitation days. Additionally, she was ordered to cover £239 in costs.