A COMMUNITY physiotherapist could be lose her job after she was found guilty of drink driving.

Shirelle Wade, 30, pleaded guilty after she was found more than three times over the limit in her car in Howden-le-Wear on March 28.

This morning (April 15), Newton Aycliffe Magistrates heard how the mother-of-one, of Crook, was found with 107 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the limit is 35 microgrammes.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said police officers found Wade parked across both lanes in the street in her VW Passat at about 2am.

Robert Willoughby, mitigating, said his client, who works at Sunderland General Hospital, met to have dinner with a friend in Bishop Auckland.

The friend then suggested going out in Crook and Wade planned to leave her car in Crook and collect it the next day after getting a taxi home.

Mr Willoughby said plans changed when her boyfriend got in touch and the pair had an argument.

Both then got into the car and “for reasons she cannot explain”, Wade drove it to Howden-le-Wear where she stopped and was found by the police.

Mr Willoughby also said Wade was at risk of losing her job as she would have to report the conviction to her professional body.

“She accepts it’s a high reading and it’s fair to say she’s been distressed since the time of her arrest and cannot believe she acted in the way she did,” he said.

“Her career effectively comes to an end because of this conviction.”

Magistrate, Pauline Parkins, said the offence was “very serious” and that it was fortunate no one had been hurt.

She said they had taken into account Wade’s previous good character ad believed she was remorseful.

Wade was fined £492 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.