A WOMAN was caught three times the drink drive limit just hours before her partner passed away.

Officers saw Sheena Miller behind the wheel of her BMW when she was driving along Dores Lane, Romsey on November 23.

It was found that she had 108mg of alcohol in her blood – where the limit in England is 35mg.

Miller was caught again two months later, while on bail, with the exact same reading in her system as she drove on Bournemouth Road, in Chandlers Ford.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard that the 50-year-old’s husband had been battling with an alcohol illness and died shortly after she was arrested for the initial charge due to an alcoholic illness.

A probation report read to the court it said: “She seemed to drink through the pain of the her husband’s health issues and there was no ending for her.

“Since her husband has died her house has been repossessed and she has had to move home and drink is a coping mechanism for her.”

The report added: “She realises now that alcohol does not help her.

“She says she is not an alcoholic.”

The court heard that Miller is originally from the Falkland Islands where she worked as a farmer before she moved to the UK to be with her stockbroker husband.

Louise Morgan, mitigating, told the court that the situation was “very sad” for Miller and that she was previously of good character.

“At the time of the second offence, Miller was drinking three bottles of wine a night,” she added.

Miller, who cried as she pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving, In sentencing, Magistrates said: “By committing these offences and in particular the second driving offence while you were on bail, are very serious offences.“You put ordinary members of the public at risk as well as your own life and limb.”She was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Miller, of Manor Farm Lane, Romsey, must also attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, as well as 14 drink impaired drivers’ programme sessions. A victim surcharge of £115 and £85 costs were also awarded.

Miller was also disqualified from driving for 24 months.