Day at the races ends in drive ban for stable girl

Car was driven erratically, court hears

A DAY at Newbury races ended in a driving ban for a racing-yard employee.

Newbury magistrates heard that members of the public called police after spotting a car with a flat tyre being driven erratically round Greenham Road Retail Park at 9.50pm.

Helen Waite, prosecuting on Thursday, December 17, said police officers approached the driver, Isabel Sahara Secret, and found her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet.

An initial, roadside test showed 94mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system – nearly three times the legal limit of 35mcg, the court heard.

But at Newbury police station, the 30-year-old became unco-operative, refusing an official test on the toximeter machine, magistrates were told.

Ms Secret, who works at a local racing yard but lives in Fawler Road, Kingston Lisle, Wantage, Oxfordshire, admitted failing to provide a breath sample on November 28.

Tom Brymer, defending, described the offence as completely out of character, adding: “She works at a local yard and has always been involved with horseracing.

“That day at Newbury races she found out her partner had been having an affair and there was a blazing row. She felt she needed to get away.”

He added: “The inevitable driving ban will make it very difficult for her to get to work at the yard so she’s trying to move nearer to the area. She may also have to sell the horse she keeps in the area.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving ban and fined Ms Secret £300 with £85 costs.