A WOMAN who drove 75 miles through Hampshire while three times over the drink-drive limit has avoided being sent to prison.

Sibahle Precious Shange, 33, from Rockram Close, Bartley, drove from Dorset along the A31 and across Hampshire on the M27.

When she got to junction eight of the motorway, she realised she had missed her turning so travelled back westbound along the motorway, missed her turning again, and carried on back to Dorset.

Then she pulled over on the A31 before once again heading eastbound, where she was seen driving into a coned-off area where workmen were working.

Shange was finally located at 1.15am, and when breathalysed, provided a sample reading of 114 - more than three times the legal drink-drive limit, and had been driving for at least 90 minutes and covered approximately 75 miles, according to officers.

She was what police described as "heavily intoxicated".

There were numerous calls to police in both Dorset and Hampshire from members of the public who each reported seeing a brown BMW Mini driving eratically along the A31 and M27.

The first call was received at 11.52pm as Shange was on the A31 heading eastbound towards Southampton.

She was arrested on the A31 at around 1.15am on September 30 by PC Paul Townend from the Western Roads Policing Unit based at Totton.

Shange was charged with driving under the influence of excess alcohol, plus the Crown Prosecution Service also added the charge of dangerous driving because of the high level of intoxication and the distance travelled.

Shange pleaded guilty to both offences at Southampton Magistrates Court on October 15, and was sentenced before Southampton Crown Court today.

Shange, was this morning sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work, must attend an impaired drivers programme, was fined prosecution costs and a victim surcharge, and disqualified from driving for

Sergeant Rob Heard, head of road safety campaigns, said: "Sibahle Precious Shange actions not only seriously endangered her own life but that of others when she drove heavily intoxicated for at least 90 minutes and 75 miles. How no one was injured was a miracle."

He went on to wanr people about the risks of getting behind the wheel after drinking.

He said: "Too many people are still taking the risk to drive whilst impaired. Whether you think you feel it or not, alcohol affects everybody's driving for the worse. It creates a feeling of overconfidence, makes judging distance and speed more difficult and slows your reactions so it takes longer to stop.

"If you are caught driving whilst impaired by drink or drugs you could face a criminal conviction, possible prison term, driving ban, and could even lose your job."

"People also need to remember that alcohol can stay in your system for some time. After just four pints of lager, you may not be safe to drive for up to 13 hours, so whether you are drinking in the afternoon or drinking in the evening, make sure you are safe to drive the following day. Just because you haven’t had a drink for a few hours, it doesn’t mean all the alcohol has left your system and you can drive. You could still be over the limit."

If you believe someone is driving whilst impaired through drink or drugs, please act immediately.

Phone Hampshire Constabulary direct on 101, or text 80999 with all the details of the vehicle, driver, location and times. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.