A serving police officer has been banned from the roads for almost two years after admitting crashing her car while drunk.

Rachel Cantwell, 26, a Kettering-based police constable with Northamptonshire Police, was convicted of a single charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

A breathalyser test showed she had 97mcgs of alcohol in 100ml of breath, almost three times the legal limit of 35mcgs.

She was said to have been behind the wheel of a Suzuki Grand Vitara on Silver Lane, near West Challow, on December 11 last year when she was involved in a collision. No other vehicles were involved.

Northamptonshire Police said PC Cantwell, of Horninghold, Leicestershire, received a community order and a 23 month roads ban.

“The force’s professional standards department will now commence proceedings for a misconduct hearing which will happen in due course,” a spokesman said.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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