A mother was found heavily intoxicated on cocaine while driving her children to school, prompting other parents to intervene and take her car keys.
Hayley Berry, 36, was described as being visibly impaired when she suddenly stopped her vehicle in the middle of the road in Broadstairs, Kent, in November last year. Concerned parents quickly stepped in, with one taking her keys and others escorting her children safely to school before alerting the authorities.
Berry was later arrested and charged with drug driving and driving while unfit through drugs. A subsequent blood test revealed she had 83 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre in her system—well above the legal limit of 50 micrograms per litre. The court also heard that she had traces of GHB, a sedative and anaesthetic drug, in her system, though she was not over the legal limit for it at the time.
During a hearing at Margate Magistrates’ Court on March 7, Berry admitted to the offences. Prosecutor Lucie Fish detailed how a passerby had to physically stop Berry and seize her keys while bystanders ensured her children reached school safely.
Berry’s defence lawyer, Nigel Numas, presented a character reference from her cocaine sponsor, who stated she had made significant progress in overcoming addiction and was taking responsibility for her actions. The court was also told that Berry unknowingly consumed GHB, believing it to be a legal high given to her by a man she was seeing at the time.
Sentencing her to eight weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, the magistrate condemned Berry’s actions as “one of the worst examples of drug driving” he had encountered, adding, “You had your youngest children in the back of the car and you were out of it. I don’t want to think what could have happened.”
In addition to the suspended sentence, Berry was banned from driving for 30 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 in court costs, which she will pay in instalments due to being on Universal Credit.
