A DRUNK driver was clapped into leg restraints when she struggled with police during her arrest.

Gillian West attempted to bite an officer, and she shouted and screamed as she was taken to the floor, Fenland magistrates were told.

West had earlier had a row with her brother - and after driving away she was spotted weaving across the road.

West, 53, of Burnt House Road, Turves, admitted resisting police and drink driving in Doddington on December 19.

Before the offences, West visited her brother and told him she had been involved in a road accident.

“She was clearly drunk and they argued,” said prosecutor Andrea Fawcett. “She got into a vehicle, and after trying several times to start the engine, she drove off towards Benwick.”

West spoke to her brother again, he knew the police were on their way, and agreed that West should return.

Back at her brother’s Doddington home, West was unsteady on her feet, and she smelled of alcohol.

“An officer put a handcuff on her right wrist but was unable to put one on her left wrist, because she struggled. She tried to bite the officer’s hand,” said Ms Fawcett.

“She was taken to the ground, she shouted, screamed and struggled, and leg restraints were applied.”

West gave a test reading of 53 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, the legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Mitigating, Nicholas Symonds said West had drunk a large glass of wine after the accident, and had consumed a glass of wine with her lunch earlier in the day.

“She telephoned her brother to speak about the accident, and he accused her of lying and making it up, that distressed her. She decided to show him the damage to her car.

“She does accept she resisted arrest, she felt she was treated unfairly.”

West was banned from driving for 14 months and fined a total of �580 with �85 costs and a �15 surcharge.

*West has denied two charges of assault and is due to face trial at Wisbech courthouse on March 23.