NHS worker Janet Stubbs was exactly three times the drink-drive limit when she was caught behind the wheel following a night out.
A police officer stopped the 55-year-old’s car after spotting she was not wearing a seatbelt - and discovered she smelled of alcohol.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the officer saw Stubbs driving along the A53 at Sneyd Green.
Prosecutor Lynne Warrington said: “At around 10.25pm on March 23 a police officer was on duty when he saw a Ford Fiesta being driven by the defendant. The officer could see she was not wearing a seatbelt so followed the vehicle for a short distance.
“He described it as driving very close to the vehicle in front and positioning in the middle of the road, as if to overtake. She pulled into a petrol station.
Stubbs, of Langham Road, Milton, later underwent a test at the police station and gave an alcohol reading of 105 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
She pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit. The court heard she had no previous convictions.
Stubbs, who works as an NHS healthcare support worker, told a probation officer that she had been struggling emotionally since the death of her uncle and had turned to alcohol. On the night of the offence she said she had been out in Newcastle town centre and had four glasses of wine.
Stubbs revealed she had gone out without her mobile phone so was unable to call a taxi, and decided to drive home. The court heard Stubbs had known she would be over the limit but did not realise by how much.
Magistrates handed Stubbs a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and instructed her to complete 80 hours unpaid work. She was disqualified from driving for 26 months, which will be reduced if she does a drink-drive rehabilitation course. She must also pay £135 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.