A DISABLED woman who drove when she was drunk to escape her violent husband has been banned from driving.

Tracy Gaughan was distressed when she turned up at Worcester police station, shoeless and dressed in a pyjama top and jeans on Monday, March 4, Worcester Magistrates heard.

Suzanne Llewellyn, prosecuting, said she walked into reception at 7.40pm crying and very excitable.

"She told the clerk her estranged husband had dragged her out of bed and she was scared for her children," she said.

"She jumped in front of the desk and demanded help."

Officers arrested the 40-year-old, who had to lie on the floor during interview because of a serious back condition, when they smelled drink on her breath and found her car outside.

"She said she had six cans of lager but had got a taxi," said Mrs Llewellyn.

"But her Vauxhall Astra was immediately outside and when asked where her car keys were, admitted driving three miles from Lower Broadheath."

A breath test showed Gaughan to have 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Gaughan, of Malvern Walk, said she had been drinking when her husband, who had been banned from seeing her three years ago after seriously assaulting her, turned up.

"He had a drink with me and we got into an argument," she said.

"I was very scared and went to bed to diffuse the situation, but he came upstairs shouting and dragged me from under the blanket.

"I knew I was going to be attacked again."

Gaughan, who admitted drink-driving, said she was so petrified she pulled on a pair of jeans and, without thinking, got into her car.

Under cross-examination, she said she did not go to her neighbours because of the domestic nature of the incident.

"All I could think of was getting as far away from him as possible," she said.

Martha Recordon, defending, urged magistrates not to disqualify her client because of the emergency reasons.

"She thought she was going to get another battering as she had been nastily assaulted in the past," she said.

However, magistrates concluded she had not explored every avenue and imposed a 12-month ban and a £250 fine.