A mum caught behind the wheel while more than twice the drink-drive limit hit a police officer after crashing her car.
Paula Fisher, 35, fled her home after suffering ‘auditory hallucinations’, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
After getting into her Vauxhall Corsa, Fisher, from Bury, crashed.
Shea ttempted to run away, before 'lashing out' and hitting an officer.
Fisher pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to drink driving; and assaulting an emergency worker.
Following the preparation of a psychiatric report, her claim that she was suffering from a ‘psychotic illness’ at the time of the incident was deemed to be genuine.
Fisher claimed she had been suffering from 'auditory hallucinations' and 'visions'.
Today (Friday) she was spared jail. A judge suspended a six-month sentence for two years.
Judge Paul Lawton earlier told the court that on December 27 last year, Fisher got into her car while more than twice the drink-drive limit.
“It was inevitable an accident would happen,” he said.
“And so it was that there was a serious crash with another road user."
He told Fisher: “You tried to flee the scene and while you were being apprehended by the police you lashed out and struck a female police officer in the face."
Fisher was said to have blown a reading of 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Judge Lawton added: “I was concerned when this case last came before the court, that the explanation you were giving was that you were suffering from a psychotic illness and visions which caused you to drink to excess.
“After being assessed by an experienced independent psychiatrist, he was satisfied that you are indeed suffering from a psychotic illness but it is being managed in the community and with medication, and I accept that.
“However, you still made a conscious decision to get behind the wheel and drive.
“You could have fled on foot, you could have fled in a taxi and even, given the time of year, you could have caught public transport.”
Fisher, of Park Street, Radcliffe, Bury, was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, including a substance abuse course. She was disqualified from driving for 15 months.
