Off-duty police officer, 30, more than double alcohol limit is banned

Off-duty police officer, 30, who got behind the wheel while more than double the alcohol limit is banned after being caught during her force’s Christmas drink-drive crackdown

• PC Helena Stone told fellow police officers: ‘I am f*****’, a court was told
• Greater Manchester Police officer will now face disciplinary proceedings

An off-duty policewoman who took to the road while more than double the alcohol limit has been banned after being caught during her own force’s Christmas drink-drive crackdown.

When pulled over in the early hours of the morning for driving erratically, PC Helena Stone told fellow officers: ‘I am f*****’, a court was told.

Sentencing yesterday, District Judge Timothy Boswell told Stone that, as a serving officer, she should ‘appreciate the dangers of drink-driving’, which put herself and other innocent road users at risk.

The 30-year-old, an officer with Greater Manchester Police, is now understood to face disciplinary proceedings.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard Stone was stopped while driving her Seat Leon hatchback in Oldham at 3am last Christmas Eve.

When pulled over in the early hours of the morning for driving erratically, PC Helena Stone told fellow officers: ‘I am f*****’, a court was told

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court (pictured) heard Stone was stopped while driving her Seat Leon hatchback in Oldham at 3am last Christmas Eve

Andrew Page, prosecuting, said two fellow officers were on patrol when they noticed her car stall.

Moments later, the vehicle was seen ‘straddling’ lanes and the officers – believing the driver may have consumed alcohol – pulled the vehicle over, the court was told.

Mr Page said Stone immediately identified herself as a serving Greater Manchester officer and told the two: ‘I am f*****.’ 

She was taken to Bury police station and breathalysed and it showed 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Stone, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was stopped as the force was in the middle of its annual festive campaign against boozed-up motorists.

In a publicity campaign, the force warned: ‘Greater Manchester Police will NOT tolerate drink and drug-driving.’

It urged revellers to arrange lifts, book taxis or use public transport.

Chris Fallows, defending, said the officer was ‘entirely remorseful’, adding: ‘Perhaps indicative of this, the defendant has stated she would prefer to be waking up in a cell than waking up having to be told that she has injured someone.’ 

He told the court the offending took place when Stone was suffering a litany of personal issues which had caused her ‘stress’.

The 30-year-old, an officer with Greater Manchester Police, is now understood to face disciplinary proceedings

The court heard her woes included buying a house she no longer wanted and an ‘ongoing dispute’ with builders, causing her ‘further anguish’.

She also had a long-running skin condition that caused her ‘constant discomfort’.

Meanwhile, Stone’s mother had moved in with her after a domestic violence incident involving her father, Mr Fallows said.

He added Stone had also been injured in car crash in November 2022 that wasn’t her fault – leading to her suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, for which she had required counselling.

Mr Fallows added: ‘She seems to have acknowledged the problems in her life at that time and has taken steps to put her on the right track.

‘I know that that’s an odd thing to say because she’s a police officer but she’s human and has her own vulnerabilities.’ 

District Judge Boswell acknowledged the ‘significant mitigation’ in her case and her ‘health and life difficulties’, but said others experienced the same difficulties and they could not excuse her drink-driving.

Stone, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £400 and must pay £120 costs plus a £160 surcharge.

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