A WOMAN solicitor who was almost twice over the limit when she was involved in a car crash was found crouched down in a nearby garden with her hands over her head.

Emma Morrisey, 34, of Southview, Skipton Road, Thornton-in-Craven, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in a BMW Z3 in Barnoldswick Road, Barrowford, on Easter Day.

She was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £350 with £60 costs by magistrates at Blackpool. Prosecutor Pauline Newrick said the charge arose out of a road traffic accident at 1.57am.

Police on duty came across the crash in which two cars were involved. Morrisey had been driving one of the cars.

The prosecutor said: "The defendant had a bang on the head during the accident. She was found crouched with her hands over her head in a nearby garden." A breath test showed 65 microgrammes of alcohol -- 35 is the legal limit.

Morrisey's defence, Mr Greenwood, said the incident was completely out of character for his client who offered her sincerest apologies.

Morrisey and a woman friend had been to a 40th birthday party, but their ordered taxi failed to turn up despite repeated requests.

After waiting an hour and 15 minutes, the two women talked as to who might drive.

Morrisey felt she was fit to drive and not over the limit so she drove her friend's car.

After the accident, Morrisey was found to be over the limit, but her friend was not.

The defence said: "There was an error of judgment on the part of both women."

The defence asked magistrates to keep Morrisey's driving ban to a minimum as her father suffered bad health. She helped care for him, but lived ten miles away.

A character reference from David Nathan QC was presented to the court.