News


Driving ban for drunkenmum


A MOTHER used her car to col- lect belongings froma farmafter drinking at a leaving do, a court was told. Anna Groves (40), of Passmore


Way in Tovil, drove to “collect something” in the early hours of the morning, despite being more than two times the alcohol limit. Prosecuting, Neil Sweeny said:


“OnMay 12 at around1.45am,mo- bile patrol officers spotted Miss Groves driving her ToyotaHybrid erratically along Sutton Road. “Police stopped the vehicle and


Miss Groves confirmed she had- been drinking. She was taken to the police station where 81mg of alcoholwas found in her breath.” The legal limit is 35mg. Defending,RussellMorling said


Groves understood she would be getting a disqualification from driving and knew it would have serious consequences.MrMorling said: “Miss Groves is a single


mum of two young children. She does have an older child who is currently a university student, he helps herwhen he can, like today. There is also no contact or finan- cial support fromthe father of the children.” Maidstone magistrates heard


that not having transportation would prove to be “very difficult” since she needs a car to take her children, one of whom has learn- ing difficulties, to school every morning. Mr Morling said: “Miss Groves


came intoMaidstone after attend- ing a friend’s leaving party. She then drove back to collect some- thing froma farmnear theAldi on Sutton Road.” Chairman of the bench, Jacqulin


Curtis said: “The charges today are to do with excessive levels of alcohol. For this you will receive a £235 fine and will be disquali- fied fromdriving for 18months.


downsmail.co.uk Award formidwife


ONE of the founders and creators of the midwifery unit at Maid- stoneHospital has been honoured by The Royal College ofMidwives. Sarah Gregson (pictured) has


been awarded an RCM Fellowship Award. She recently retired from her


consultant midwife post at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Sarah qualified from Queen


Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London in 1984, and in 2004 she earned herMasters in Advanc- ing Midwifery Practice at King’s College London. During her career, which spans


more than 30 years, Sarah has worked as a practising midwife in several maternity units in the south east of England, and has pi- oneered a broad range of care ini- tiatives. These include improving midwifery care in the early 2000s for women who become critically ill during childbirth and the devel- opment of a new free standing midwifery led unit atMaidstone in 2011. She remains committed to en- abling care that is person-centred,


safe and high quality. Sarah con- tinues to volunteerwith the RCM’s global


twinning project in


Bangladesh and also works part time as amidwifery advisor.


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