A DRINK driver caught with a child in the back of her car was said to have been boozing with her younger boyfriend.

Sarah Michalek was behind the wheel of a silver Vauxhall Astra that failed to stop after crashing into a green Ford Mondeo on Lydiard Green on September 17.

When they stopped her, police found she had a child in the back of the car. He had been injured when his seatbelt snapped across his body in the crash. Michalek was said to have spat at and verbally abused police officers when she was taken to Great Western Hospital for treatment.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court this week dressed in a smart black suit, the 31-year-old, of Cowleaze, Purton, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink, failing to stop at the scene of a road accident, assaulting, ill-treating or neglecting a child, three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and use of threatening or abusive words likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Defending, Jonathan Lewis said his client had been out earlier that evening with her 19-year-old boyfriend and had drunk stronger alcohol than she was used to.

“He was a detrimental [influence],” Mr Lewis said.

She had a long history of mental health issues and was prescribed a cocktail of medication. The effect of the prescription was to magnify the impact of the drink.

Michalek was said to be remorseful and had on the night apologised to officers for her actions.

Magistrates adjourned the sentence until November 14 and ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation service. Michalek was given an interim driving ban.