A Norfolk mum on a night out caused £53,000 of damage to a 16th-century pub after crashing her BMW into it as she tried to make last orders.
Appearing at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court, Natasha Searle, of Henry Ward Road, Harleston, pleaded guilty to three charges; driving without insurance, failing to report an accident and failing to stop after an accident.
The court heard that on May 17, the 25-year-old and a friend had "a few drinks" at home before driving five miles to the Homersfield Black Swan where they continued their evening.
At around 11pm when the Black Swan was closing, after having a cigarette outside they went in search of another pub that was still serving.
The pair decided to try their luck at The Wortwell Bell, just a five-minute drive away, and got into the silver BMW with Searle driving them there.
As they arrived, the court heard, that Searle "had to swerve" to avoid contact with an oncoming vehicle and by dodging the car crashed directly into the grade II-listed building.
Mitigating, Calvin Saker, said that Searle "felt intimidated" by the angry punters who confronted her following the incident.
As a result, she called her boyfriend who came and collected her from the scene before the emergency services arrived.
As Searle fled the scene, the court heard that she left her injured friend in the passenger seat, who had to be cut free by firefighters.
Mr Saker told the prosecution that Searle had not been charged with drink driving or driving without due care or attention so magistrates "must focus" on the charges brought against her.
He told the court that Searle believed the BMW, which was a gift to her, was insured and although she left the scene she had tried to call police to report the incident.
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He added that Searle "accepts she had consumed some alcohol" but he said "she wasn't drunk" and is "deeply apologetic".
Probation assessed Searle's background and deemed that the defendant was both "unsuitable" and "unable" to comply with the conditions of a community order due to personal reasons.
Searle was given a total court charge of £2,365, of which £2,000 is to be paid in compensation to former landlord, Paul Holland - the pub's landlord at the time of the incident.
The court was told that Mr Holland's insurance had covered £51,000 of the damage but there was an excess of £2,000 he paid out of his own pocket.
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Furthermore, Searle was issued a 12-month disqualification from driving.
Speaking outside of court after the hearing, Searle said: "I am really sorry that this happened, it is the biggest mistake of my life and cannot explain how seriously apologetic I am for it.
"I am just so glad that fortunately nobody was hurt in the incident and I just want to put this behind me, having learned my lesson, and focus on being the best mother."
"I don't know why the police didn't act quicker to get the driver for drink driving," he said. "The fact that she got away with it is just ridiculous.
"At the time of the crash, one of my regulars was literally about to go outside for a cigarette and sit on the bench that got crashed into the pub.
"He would have been killed - so how she wasn't charged for dangerous driving or driving without due care or attention I just will never understand."
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