A WOMAN who killed her own mother by drink-driving was spared a prison sentence.

Janet Newbold, 45, had been celebrating the 18th birthday of her youngest daughter Charlotte at The Barn restaurant near Mickle Trafford before her car was involved in a head-on collision.

Chester Crown Court heard how on September 12 last year, Newbold, of Irby but now living in Switzerland, left the party with her husband and her parents, Barbara and Alan Prince, who were rear passengers in her Ford Focus car.

Newbold left the restaurant car park and drove along the wrong side of the A56 for 650m before she collided with a car being driven by Mary Alexander, who suffered minor injuries.

Her father suffered a head injury while her mother had to freed from the wreckage by emergency services. She suffered extensive injuries to her spine and was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital. Mrs Prince was moved to Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, where she later died.

The court heard how Newbold, who is now suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress, was about 4mg over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the collision. She had previously admitted drinking a glass of champagne and a glass of red wine, which was topped up twice during the party.

Recorder for Chester Judge Elgan Edwards said: “This is one of the saddest and most difficult cases I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

“The court maintains its inherent power to show mercy.”

Newbold was sentenced to 51 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. She was ordered to live with her father for four weeks and was disqualified from driving for three years.

Before delivering his sentence, Judge Edwards said: “You were celebrating a happy occasion, the birthday of your 18-year-old daughter. Shortly afterwards a tragedy occurred.

“You made a serious error of judgement, the error was that you did not realise you were not driving on the continent.

“Prison is almost an inevitability in cases of this nature.

“But I have read the details about you and I have seen you on three occasions in court. I am convinced that the trauma you are showing and the agony you are going through is genuine and heartfelt.

“There comes a time for punishment but there also comes a time for mercy.

“I am conscious that there is nothing I can do that will be more of a punishment than living with what you have done.”