Drink-driver drove off with child passenger and a lamp post on car roof after smashing into Blackpool cricket ground at 4am

On top of her Kia Sportage was the lamp post she had hit when she careered off the road and wrapped around the bonnet was some of the boundary fencing.

A wooden fence pole had speared through the metal chassis of the car narrowly missing driver Carly Gourley and her child passenger.

Blackpool Magistrates heard how Gourley, 34, had been driving home to Walter Avenue, St Annes, when she swerved on Queensway and crashed through the fence of South Shore Cricket Club.

An eye witness contacted police and the child who was in the car at the time of the incident told him: "I think she is dead.”

Gourley re-started the car and started to drive over the pitch still with the lamp post on the roof.

Police arrived and she was breath tested which revealed she was more than twice over the limit.

She was taken to the police station but failed to give a second sample.

Gourley admitted failing to give a specimen and was banned from driving for two years and placed on a three month curfew. She must pay £180 costs and complete 15 rehabilitation days.

Chairman of the bench Peter Trend told her: "We have considered sending you to prison but because of your children we have not done so. This could have been a far more serious incident.”

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said the eye witness who was cycling to work at 4am had tried to take the car keys out of the vehicle after the crash but Gourley had stopped him.

The prosecutor said:”Gourley lit a cigarette and spoke with slurred words and despite having a lamp post on her rood tried to drive away.

Howard Green,defending,said: "This car was bought on finance and it was written off. However ,she is still having to repay the finance company.

“This accident may have been caused by a mixture of drink and medication.She has not had a drink since.”