A MUM on a night out was so desperate to make last orders she smashed her BMW into a pub causing £53,000 worth of damage.
Natasha Searle shared a few drinks with her pal at the Homersfield Black Swan, in Harleston, Norfolk, but wanted to find another pub at closing time.
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Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court heard how the 25-year-old got behind the wheel in search of another boozer on May 17 earlier this year.
The pair decided to go to The Wortwell Bell, a five minute drive away.
But Searle lost control when trying to avoid another car and smashed her silver BMW into the side of the pub.
She caused £53,000 worth of damage on the grade-II listed building.
The mum also left her injured friend behind in the passenger seat, who had to be cut free by firefighters.
The defendant, of Henry Ward Road, Harleston, later admitted to driving without insurance, failing to report an accident and failing to stop after an accident.
She was not charged with drink driving or driving without due care or attention.
Mitigating barrister, Calvin Saker, told the court Searle “felt intimidated” by fuming pubgoers so enlisted the help of her boyfriend to flee the scene.
He said while Searle had “consumed some alcohol”, “she wasn’t drunk”.
My Saker added how his client believed the car was insured after receiving it as a present.
She had also reported the smash to cops despite leaving the scene and was “deeply apologetic”.
Searle was ordered to pay £2,365, of which £2,000 was for compensation to the landlord at the time, Paul Holland.
The sum was calculated after Mr Holland’s insurance covered the first £51,000 in damages – but he was left forking out £2,000 for the rest.
The defendant was also slapped with a 12-month driving ban.
Speaking outside of court after the hearing, Searle told the EDP: “I am really sorry that this happened, it is the biggest mistake of my life and cannot explain how seriously apologetic I am for it.
“I am just so glad that fortunately nobody was hurt in the incident and I just want to put this behind me, having learned my lesson, and focus on being the best mother.”
But pub landlord Mr Holland said it was “ridiculous” Searle had not been charged with drink driving.
“At the time of the crash, one of my regulars was literally about to go outside for a cigarette and sit on the bench that got crashed into the pub,” he said.
“He would have been killed – so how she wasn’t charged for dangerous driving or driving without due care or attention I just will never understand.”
Driving penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance
- You could receive a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on your licence if you are caught driving a vehicle that you are not insured to drive.
- If the case goes to court you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.
- The police also have the power to seize, and in some cases, destroy a vehicle if it’s being driven without insurance.
Penalties for failing to stop or report an incident
- a fine
- up to six months in prison
- penalty points on your licence
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