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Drunken motorbike instructor fell off 3 times as she taught rider: She had two bottles of brandy in her jacket
A MOTORCYCLE instructor was so drunk that she fell off her bike three times as she gave a pupil a lesson, a court heard.
When police arrested 46-year-old Sandra Kenyon, of Northedge Park, Hipperholme, after her third fall they found two bottles of brandy in her biker jacket – one empty and one three-quarters full.
The mum of two, who had worked for the riding school for nine years, was giving a lesson to learner Philip Hopkins on the morning of March 3.
Bingley Magistrates' Court heard that shortly after setting off Kenyon dropped her bike and needed help picking it back up.
She then fell as she approached a set of traffic lights and again on a roundabout in Bradford.
Kenyon admitted riding a motorbike with excess alcohol. The court was told she had 131mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath – almost four times over the limit.
Presiding magistrate Ian Cowling warned her she could face prison or a lengthy community order.
Nadine Clough, prosecuting, said: "Driving towards a roundabout and approaching the traffic lights, Kenyon was on the floor again and needed help with the bike.
"She seemed to be shaking and apologised, saying it was the first time she had dropped the bike."
Mr Hopkins and Kenyon carried on towards Shipley but, as he approached another roundabout, Mr Hopkins could not see her following him.
Then he heard a cry of "Ow, my legs" over the radio link. He turned back and saw Kenyon on the ground with a number of people gathered round her.
When police arrived and removed her jacket they found two bottles of French brandy.
Kenyon told officers the empty bottle had been consumed the day before and she had only had a mouthful that day.
"When interviewed, she told officers she needed help," said Miss Clough.
She was suffering from depression and was taking medication and occasionally used alcohol.
After the hearing, Roger Stanley, of Ridesafe Motorcycle School in Bradford, said Kenyon had been sacked on the day of the offence.
He said: "It was a big shock. We have very high standards and I was disgusted with what happened."
Kenyon had worked for Ridesafe for nine years and had been employed on a sub-contractual basis, said Mr Stanley.
Sentence was adjourned until next month. Kenyon was made the subject of an interim driving ban.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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