That resulted in Kristy Ann Giffin facing a charge yesterday of high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, to which she pleaded guilty.

Magistrate Rodney Brender said on Tuesday it was clear from a pre-sentence report carried out on the 38-year-old that “she’s got an alcohol problem”.

Giffin, the court was told, was “horrified” at what she had done.

“In your case you were 0.2, which is a very high reading,” Mr Brender said.

What had helped her avoid a jail term was the fact that the only aggravating feature of her driving was her swerving slightly to the left over a fog line on the road.

Mr Brender heard how Giffin had little income and had become a virtual recluse in her home.

She had also been suffering from mental health issues.

Her lawyer argued that Giffin was suitable for a section nine bond because she did not have a criminal history and also had an “exemplary” traffic record.

Police told the court that Giffin was pulled over by police for a random breath test in Kaitlers Road, Lavington, on June 2 just before 3pm.

They had noticed her silver Commodore, travelling west, swerving within the lane and crossing over the left-hand edge of the roadway.

The preliminary result was postive for alcohol and so Giffin was arrested and taken to Albury police station for another breathalyser test.

But before then they had noticed her eyes were bloodshot, she was unsteady on her feet and she struggled to get her driver’s licence out of her wallet.

Her breath also smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor.

Giffin later told police she had her first glass of wine at midday and her sixth at 1.55pm.

She did not eat any food while drinking.

Mr Brender placed Giffin on a two-year good behaviour bond. She was disqualified her from obtaining a licence for six months.