Woman's moment of madness; HIGH-FLYING CAREER IS RUINED.

Byline: By LINDA RICHARDS

A MOMENT of madness has cost a successful woman her lucrative career.

Shamed Lyn Crozier is now struggling to survive on a state handout after a "moment of madness".

The mum was sacked from her highflying job after being caught driving while almost three times the limit.

She now receives just pounds 50 a week Tax Credit and is trying to rebuild her life.

Magistrates in Gateshead were told Crozier, 39, jumped in her car after drinking to follow her boyfriend when he walked out after a row.

She had only gone a short distance when she decided it was a bad idea and turned around to go home.

But police were in the area for an unrelated matter and they stopped and breathalysed her.

And that when the business development officer for Newcastle hotels told her employer, she was sacked.

She is not entitled to Income Support and receives pounds 50 a week.

Crozier, of Carr Hill Road, Carr Hill, Gateshead, was banned from driving for two years after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol. She was also given a community order with supervision for 18 months and told to pay pounds 50 costs.

Prosecutor Justin Gibson said Crozier was stopped by police near her home at midnight on August 25. She had 101 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

"They could smell alcohol on her breath and it was clear she had been drinking," he said.

Paul Hanratty, defending, said Crozier is of previous good character and has never had an endorsement on her licence.

That night she had been drinking, she fell into an argument with her partner and he left.

He said: "She decided rather foolishly because of emotions running high that she could get into the car and try and locate him.

"She drove a short distance from her home before realising it was a bad move and she better return home because she should not be driving a car. She turned the car around. The police were in the area for no reason that had anything to do with her and asked her to stop.

"Perhaps this could be described as a moment of madness. She would not normally get into this kind of difficulty. She is paying a very dear penalty for that moment of madness."

In her job, she drove all over the North East and after telling her employers of her court case, she was dismissed, he said.

With a young daughter to support and a mortgage to pay, she will look for another job.

"This is likely to be with a lower income and it will impact on her lifestyle because she was in well paid employment," he added.

Crozier told magistrates: "I want to tell you how I deeply regret what I have done and that I am thoroughly ashamed. I know I will be banned and I don't want my daughter to suffer."