A SUCCESSFUL recruitment consultant's decision to help a friend during a night out in Truro resulted in her losing her driving licence for two years.

Jessica Atkinson, 23, of Gregor Road, Truro was well over the limit when police stopped her driving her VW Golf on the A390 at Tresillian in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Shermila Dugal, prosecuting, told the court it was soon after 1am when an officer on patrol in an unmarked police car spotted Atkinson's Golf in Tregolls Road.

His attention was drawn to the vehicle because he noticed that the rear seat passenger was not wearing a seatbelt. He followed the car and it stopped in a lay-by near Tresillian.

He approached the vehicle and when the driver got out he immediately smelt intoxicating liquor and her speech was slurred. A roadside breath test was carried out and the reading was just under three times the drink drive limit at 97 milligrams in 100 millilitres of breath.

Her defence solicitor said his client had been very upset and frightened by what had happened. "This was a frightening very sobering experience," he said.

She had been out drinking with friends in Truro. The passenger who caused her downfall got into a spot of bother in Truro and wanted to get out of the way. There wasn't anybody else with a vehicle and Jessica came to his aid. She knew she had been drinking and it was a very foolish thing to do.

"She won't do it again," said her solicitor.

The court was told she was a successful recruitment consultant at a young age.

Magistrates ordered that she pay a fine of £350, £43 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.