Drink drive shame of alcohol charity worker

Exclusive: Dan Thompson

October 28, 2009

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Louise Ford 30, ploughed into traffic cones on the M62 with her three-year-old daughter in the back of her car.

A MUM who works for an alcohol charity has been caught drink-driving TWICE - in just three months.

Louise Ford, 30, ploughed into traffic cones on the M62 with her three-year-old daughter in the back of her car. When police caught up with her on a slip road, they found the little girl crying in a child seat in the back of her Toyota Yaris.

Ford was so drunk officers could not understand what she was saying, a court heard. And, magistrates were told, she was unable to take a breath test because she could only splutter and suck on the tube.

But Ford was caught drink-driving again after she stopped at a bakery one morning. Staff realised she had been drinking and called police. This time she gave a breath test and was almost three-and-a-half times over the limit. Ford, of Alexandra Road, Ashton under Lyne, wept in court as she pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child under seven and failing to take a breath test on the M62 on April 25.

She also admitted drink-driving following the second incident on July 17.

Magistrates in Tameside handed her a three-month jail term suspended for 12 months. She was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Regret

Ford, a recovering alcoholic said after sentencing: "I completely regret what happened. I made a mistake and I'm doing all I can to put my life back on track.

"I just want to put all this behind me."

Karibo Lawson, defending, said his client needed help for her addiction instead of punishment from the court.

"She wants to give her child a good future," he added.

"She is upset she put her child in that situation in April. She is upset her life was in danger. Anything could have happened that fateful day."

The court heard Ford has stopped drinking since the second incident and has sought help for her alcoholism. Ford works for the Turning Point charity and was based at the Smithfield Project - a rapid detox centre for people with alcohol and drugs addictions in Collyhurst.

She is a project worker dealing directly with addicts, their families and friends.

A spokeswoman for Turning Point said: "We can confirm that Louise Ellen Ford is a Turning Point employee and that we are aware of the conviction.

Internal enquiry

"Turning Point takes matters such as these very seriously and are conducting a full internal enquiry to ensure we follow our duty of care to service users and employees."

The spokeswoman was unable to say whether Ford had been suspended from her job but confirmed they did not employ anyone they knew to be struggling with substance misuse issues.

She said all their staff underwent thorough checks before they were employed including criminal records checks.

The Smithfield Project opened in 1993 to help alcoholics but now has expanded to cater for drug addicts as well and is seen as a pioneering centre - working alongside social and health services.

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Tezza, Tyldesley (28/10/2009 at 08:40)

“Ford, a recovering alcoholic”

Well she’s not recovering anymore is she; she’s slipped of the wagon.

Seemingly Ignored, Heald Green (28/10/2009 at 08:42)

Charity workers are literally getting a bad press this morning.

tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (28/10/2009 at 08:55)

So not only did she put at risk her and other lives- but that of her child! And caught twice in nearly the same amount of months that beggers belife! Ive always said that drink drinkers should be banned from driving for life.

Panzer 391, Salford (28/10/2009 at 08:57)

British mothers aint what they used to be.

Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (28/10/2009 at 09:09)

Only one word you can use here and thats Hypocrite. How they can really only give her a sentence effectively of a £100 fine is beyond belief, a suspended sentence is a joke, as well as killing her own child she could have killed somebody else. Another example of our law and order system going mad.

Henrys Dog (28/10/2009 at 09:25)

If she wants to give the child a "good future" she should allow some one else to take care of it.

Her actions are border line sick, endangering a 3 yr old like that. Stupid woman.

Howellsy (28/10/2009 at 09:37)

Yup, she made a bad, bad mistake and one that could have very serious repurcussions in all areas of her life. However, she is at least trying to make a difference to other people through her role at Turning Point, instead of sitting back and smugly slating everyone else as most of the regular posters do on here, anyone would think they'd never taken a wrong turn or done anything wrong in their morally certain lives. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, something the predictably negative critics on here would do well to remember.

tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (28/10/2009 at 09:51)

To Howellsy, please point out where i have said I am morally above any one else? Yes I have made the odd mistake in my life , but NEVER have i ever been stupid and mindlessly enough to drink and drive like this woman did not once but TWICE!

All i have ever done,a long with others, is point out where sentences have been laughingly short or not strong enough. So please explain how my comments against thugs/yobs leinient sentence is part of the problem? You reference her job at Turning Point - shame she has blown her chance note the comment "did not employ anyone they knew to be struggling with substance misuse issues" So through her own stupidity she has denied future people who need help her advice and knowledge.

Blue Dude, Manchester. (28/10/2009 at 10:21)

Drunk Driving with a child in the car = reckless endangerment to life. She could have been sent down.

The only difference is the only damage was traffic cones.
She is lucky and so is the child.
Unfit mother - discuss !

Henrys Dog (28/10/2009 at 10:29)

Howellsy, Your using the word "Mistake" rather loosely. A mistake is turning left instead of right, i wouldnt class nearly killing your own child as a "mistake".
If she sorts herself out fair play but i think the relevant authorities need to keep a close eye on her situation.

nyb, ex manc (28/10/2009 at 10:34)

Alcohol is a very addictive, depressive drug, as well as a poison. Some people are genetically disposed to become enslaved to it more than others. At that point all talk of will power and logic goes out the window, it becomes a systemic illness which needs treating clinically, followed by re education and sheer day to day struggle to overcome the temptation to start using again.

Cars and alcohol don't mix, that is the major learning point for these users; take that out of the equation, and as long as the user is not one of those poor souls whose minds become twisted towards violence bu alcohol, then the use/misuse/abuse become a simple matter of choice and lifestyle.

This woman obviously had to reach the bottom before learning the lesson about cars being a no-no for alcohol users.

schgittor (28/10/2009 at 10:45)

vermin

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (28/10/2009 at 10:48)

Howellsy
28/10/2009 at 09:37
You Talk some rubbish.
The smithfield project was opened in 1993 by princess diana and is a success and has helped so many people.
If you are a recovering user to work for turning point you have to be clean for a period of at least 5= years and crb checks ,i know this as an old friend of mine works for the rochdale turning point westcliffe house,after he was clean and wanted to help other ppl in his old situation of alcohol and cocaine addiction he has been clean for 7= years now and went to manchester uni to get his degree in psychology and also counselling skills and he is doing very well,but if he abused his position he would be sacked and have to start from scratch with hiom having counselling and meetings and every other help that is there to help him again,his chances of working for turning point again would be a non starter.
As the centre is not in collyhurst and is actually in ancoats near thompson st fire training centre m.e.n news catch that......now your stuff.

karen tyler (28/10/2009 at 10:54)

Twice, I am sorry and then working with people dealing with drink problems! She must have been uninsured the second time!
Someone drink driving should have their car clamped on their driveway or put in a compound and the costs met by the owner, for the length of the driving ban/ or sold.
The person should then do community work with the emergency services - how is it ok for alcoholics to be able to drive?
It is pure luck that someone was not injured or killed and she would face a prison sentence.
It has taken my friend 4 years to battle with the insurers of the drink driver who killed her husband, two years ago the drink driver was released early and is back in the USA driving and living with his family - a blip in his life but not hers!
All I can say is if you think it cannot happen to your family you are wrong and if you think there is justice in our Courts then you are incredibly naive!

Sarcastion Nastyface (28/10/2009 at 11:03)

No, people. It's not that she drink-drove twice.

It's that she GOT CAUGHT TWICE.

Big difference.

Sallie (28/10/2009 at 11:14)

The key point is that she is an alcoholic and as someone else pointed out logic and sensible thinking goes out the window. Sober this woman would never have put her child at risk like this. What she needs now is help and support to stay sober and to continue to be a useful member of society not to be dragged further through the mud when I am sure her life is difficult enough.

Haytch, Manchester (28/10/2009 at 11:18)

Do you know I am all for giving people second chances but this beggars belief! I am so capable of drinking too much but never, ever, ever, no matter how drunk, would I drive with a child in the back of my car NEVER! Alcoholism is an excuse for that behaviour. I would go out of my way to make sure my child or anyone's child was not put in danger. Disgraceful!

Angie33 , Manchester (28/10/2009 at 11:55)

Alcoholism is described as a progressive illness.An alcoholic cant say'I would never do this or that'.If they have been in recovery and learned about the illness they know that 'yet' has to follow these statements.Maybe before her latest fall off the wagon she had never been a drink driver.The yets come thick and fast even after long periods of sobriety as the illness has been arrested,not cured.

Englisc Stannes, North Manchester (28/10/2009 at 12:23)

Beggars belief thinking she'll get away with it twice. What amazing is knowing you have a child on board and even willing to drive with that knowledge.

Nij, Manchester (28/10/2009 at 15:38)

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but if you are unable to provide a breath specimen aren't you then taken to a station for a blood sample? If so, how can this woman have been allowed to drive again after refusing a breath test the first time she was stopped? Did the police who stopped her the first time simply let her off with a caution?

caza cs (28/10/2009 at 15:40)

Haytch Manchester: Alcoholism is NOT an Excuse but a debilitating
Illness that destroys lives of decent people and there loved ones around them.
This woman has learnt the hard way and has to live with her actions: At least she is in a position to move on and hopefully rebuild what has been broken and not spend the rest of her life mourning the death of her baby and other road users. Think before you comment about something you obviuosly know ABS nothing about. We do not live in a perfect world with perfect people. Some persons are thrown into chaos through no fault of there own..

life is loud, swinton (28/10/2009 at 15:56)

If you want to drink thats your choice but please dont drive

Rimsky (28/10/2009 at 16:40)

Not interested in it being an 'illness'. She committed a crime and got caught. She would have done it again and again. I am glad this menace to society is off the road for 5 years although a 10 year ban would have been stronger justice.

Knowsleyman, Paphos (28/10/2009 at 17:48)

During my driving career I have had 3 accidents involving drivers who were drunk. I had feelings much in line with many of the current opinions. I have no knowledge as to whether any of these drivers were Alcoholics.

My views are now changed!!!!!!!!!!! My wife's former husband was an Alcoholic and she was, back in England, very active in ALANON.

I now understand that Alcoholism is a very, very serious disease and one which the suffers have not chosen for themselves. They do need pity and a great deal of help and assistance with their daily struggles to beat this deamon.

On Sunday my wife and I were in conversation with another married couple. They are both retired and were both Consultant Psychiatrists the only differnce between them being that the husband is a recovering Alcoholic.

He went on to explain that his heavy drinking began in Med-School and, very slowly, took hold of him. He went on to say that he spent over 30 years helping Alcoholics and it was very, very hard. The fact remains that he did help many to recover, as far as that is possible.

I do not condone in any way, shape or form what this woman did, but I would resist from calling her scum because of her Alcoholism.

If she is scum would that description also apply to the Consultant Psychiatrist?????

There is a very large amount of ill informed comment on this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs Jammy, Sitting on the settee (28/10/2009 at 21:34)

Great example to the people she is supposed to be helping.

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