A woman who drunk-drove while dressed as Star Wars' Princess Leia has received a 20-month driving ban.
Leanne Dodds, 28, was stopped by police on her way back from a fancy dress party, the Shields Gazette reports. Her husband, dressed as Luke Skywalker, was also in the Ford Mondeo, which officers had seen being driven erratically.
When breathalysed, Mrs Dodds was found to have 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath - around two-and-half times the drink-drive limit.
Peterlee Magistrates Court heard that Mrs Dodds had intended to stay sober, but had ended up drinking wine at the party in Murton. She and her husband were embarrassed to walk home in their Star Wars outfits, so had decided to drive the short distance.
Chairman of the bench, Keith King, told Mrs Dodds: "Fancy dress - we've no doubt all been there and taken precautions to avoid walking along streets and taken a taxi, but, on that night, you used your own vehicle."
Mrs Dodds, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, was fined £255 and ordered to pay £60 costs and a victim surcharge of £15, as well as being banned from driving for 20 months.
