Catrin Jones was described as ‘very, very nervous’ to be in court

11:10, 10 Nov 2025Updated 11:11, 10 Nov 2025

Catrin Jones, 23 (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

A hotel and spa supervisor found by police in a layby at 5am has been hit by a hefty fine and a driving ban after getting behind the wheel at double the legal alcohol limit.

Catrin Jones, 23, had been reported by council CCTV operators after she was seen drunkenly clambering into her Ford Fiesta with the unnamed male following a birthday party before driving off in an erratic manner.

Officers later found the couple together inside the Fiesta after it pulled into the layby at Chester International School in the Handbridge area of the city, Chester Magistrates Court heard.

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JPs heard the engine was switched off but the keys were still in the ignition and Jones was asked to get out of the driver’s seat.

She was seen stumbling and unsteady on her feet, and smelt strongly of alcohol. Breath tests showed she was more than twice the alcohol limit.

The incident occurred at 4.57am on October 10 when police were alerted by local authority CCTV that Jones and her partner appeared to be intoxicated and had just entered a Ford Fiesta.

Annika Livermore, prosecuting, said: ”She began to drive away and had driven in an erratic manner, swerving on the road, from Bridge Street in Chester in the general direction of Handbridge. She then pulled into a layby near Chester International School.

“The keys were in the ignition though the engine was turned off. The defendant was engaged in some form of activity with her partner and she was asked to leave the vehicle.

“She stumbled and was unsteady on her feet. She smelled strongly of alcohol and slurred her words.

“The defendant was asked to provide a roadside breath sample and gave a positive reading. She was then arrested and taken to a custody facility where evidential procedure was completed. The defendant was of good character before this incident.”’

Jones outside Chester Magistrates Court (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester))

Tests showed Jones had 92 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35mg. A probation officer told the hearing: “She is very, very nervous to be here. She is previously of good character and is not used to the criminal justice system.

”She did take full responsibility for her actions and did not attempt to come up with any excuses. She had gone out with friends. It was one of their birthdays.

“She usually leaves the car at a friend’s house and picks it up the following day. She got it into her head that if she left her car she would get a fine, so she decided to move her car.

”She now realises she is in a much, much worse position for making the stupid decision to drive. She is aware of the danger posed to others and even though there was some issue with the manner of driving, no one was harmed.”

Jones’s lawyer Selina Woodward said: ”At the time of the offence it was her friend’s birthday she had been out in the town. She usually gets a taxi but made the stupid decision to go back to her car and then drive to Handbridge.

“It was a short distance driven and she is extremely remorseful to appear before the court for such a silly mistake.”

Jones from Rosset, Wrexham, admitted drink driving and was fined £677 pounds, ordered to pay £356 in costs and a surcharge, and disqualified from driving for two years.

In sentencing Jones, JP Alf Bean offered her place on a drink driver awareness course which if completed will reduce her ban by a quarter.

He told her: “You are a person of good character but sadly that has now gone because of this conviction. We appreciate that you are remorseful for this.”