A WOMAN who fell out with her partner when he came home late failed a breathalyser after driving away in the early hours of the morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard Leanne Aspinall didn't think she would be over the limit having been in bed for several hours after drinking half a bottle of wine.

Aspinall, 31, of Whitehaven Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. She was fined £250 with £85 costs and £22 victim surcharge. She was banned from driving for 12 months after the court heard she gave a reading of 52 against the legal limit of 35.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police stopped Aspinall in the early hours of the morning because they thought she was going too fast in the icy conditions. When she got out of the car Aspinall started to walk away but was detained by the officer at her front door. She said she hadn't been drinking but failed a breathalyser.

Ben Leech, defending, said Aspinall had been at her boyfriend's house and planned to stay the night.

"She had drunk half a bottle of wine and went to bed not expecting to be driving until the following day," said Mr Leech.

"He boyfriend arrived home in the early hours and an argument developed over where he had been and what he had been doing."

Mr Leech said Aspinall decided to drive home, not thinking there would still be alcohol in her system.