A MONMOUTH mother was jailed for two months after being caught almost six times over the drink/drive limit.

Huw Williams, defending, told Abergavenny magistrates that her reading was one of the highest, if not the highest, ever dealt with in the court.

Caroline Anne Grove, 37, of King Henry V Drive, Monmouth, had admitted at an earlier hearing driving with excess alcohol on October 6.

Magistrates had adjourned sentencing for reports.

Prosecutor Craig Bond said Grove had been caught after an accident at Cinderhill.

The owner of a car parked in a layby outside Albion Stores came out of the shop and heard the thud of vehicles colliding.

He saw another vehicle reversing in front of his, the court heard, and then saw that car drive forward as if leaving the scene.

Mr Bond said the man had stepped out in front and confronted Grove, who was driving. "She said 'just take the number' and attempted to drive away, so he jumped out of the way and then grabbed the keys from her ignition," he added.

Police officers arrived on the scene and Grove was arrested and taken to Abergavenny police station, where the Intoximeter registered her first reading as out of range.

A blood sample was taken, which revealed 465 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit being 80.

Mr Williams said it was accepted the starting-point for such an offence was custody, but the probation report highlighted Grove's difficulties.

"This is one of the highest, if not the highest reading seen in this court and she now understands the seriousness of the offence and it has brought to light her alcohol addiction.

"The hardest part is to admit you are an alcoholic, and she has been forced to admit she is one so now she can seek treatment.

"She has already done that by consulting her GP, who has referred her to the Gwent Alcohol Project, and she has been assigned a counsellor."

Sentencing Grove to two months and a four-year driving ban, chairman of Abergavenny magistrates Steve Brooks said: "This is an extremely high reading and we considered the very real risk of injury to yourself and others."