A suspected drink-driving pensioner who was arrested after crashing her car later failed to give police a proper specimen of breath.
Dorothy Cox had given her friend a lift home following an evening out when she hit a curb in an area of Wallsend.
The police were called and the 75-year-old failed a roadside breath test, giving a reading of 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes, a court heard.
Cox, who has no past convictions, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taken to a police station, where she failed to give a required specimen of breath.
She has now been fined £276 and banned from the roads for 12 months during a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court after she admitted failing to provide the specimen of breath.
Clare Irving, prosecuting, said Cox, of Burnett Close, Wallsend, was involved in an accident at around 9pm on October 12 before failing the roadside breath test.
"She's fully compliant with the officers and continues to be at the station," Ms Irving said. "She agrees to provide a breath test but provides an incomplete sample.
"She's asked if there is a medical reason for her doing so but she replies 'Not really'."
Mark Harrison, defending, said Cox had been out in Newcastle City Centre for food and drinks with her friend before they returned to her home in Wallsend.
Mr Harrison added: "She agreed to drive her friend home as she was clearly panicked about having to walk across Wallsend after dark.
"With the benefit of hindsight, they should have called a cab."
Mr Harrison said that Cox did not wish to drive her car again, even after getting her licence back in a year.
