A SERVING soldier who had been to the pub with her partner could not explain why she decided to drive home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Rebecca Laing ran into the back of a taxi waiting at a red light and gave a breathalyser reading nearly three times the legal limit.

Laing, 30, of Rewe Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 60 hours’ unpaid work, ordered to pay £85 costs and £90 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 23 months.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had been in the army for 13 years and was on leave at the time of the offence.

She had been to the pub with her partner and the plan was to stay at her house which was just around the corner.

“For some reason ­— which she can’t explain ­— she decided to drive back to her house in Blackburn,” said Mr Pickup.

“She will be subjected to military discipline when she returns to the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, he added.”