A BASINGSTOKE nurse has been banned from driving after she was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Laura Mulligan, of Norrie Court, Rooksdown, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on June 2.

Prosecutor Nick Barr told the court that the 39-year-old, an on-call nurse at Basingstoke hospital, was followed by a police officer at 1pm on May 16, after she was seen clipping the curb at Thornycroft Roundabout.

Mulligan was arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle while over the drink limit after the police officer followed her into a petrol station in Churchill Way West.

When breathalysed, it returned a reading of 52 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Craig Matthews, defending, told the court that she had been “extremely stressed” because her mother is terminally ill.

Mr Matthews added: “This is her first ever court appearance, her first conviction and she has got a good character and is a very positive member of the community.”

Magistrate, Anne Willmer, banned Mulligan from driving for 12 months and ordered her to pay a £450 fine, £85 costs, £45 victim surcharge and a court charge of £150.