A NEWLY-qualified solicitor fell foul of the law after a night out with her boyfriend ended in a row.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Dona Leander McIlwane was involved in a crash as she drove home from her boyfriend's flat where she had intended to spend the night.

And police, who stopped to check the situation, smelled alcohol on her breath and she was arrested after failing a road side breathalyser.

McIlwane, 26, of Heron Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was disqualified from driving for two years and fined £500 with £50 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police stopped at the scene of an accident in Grimshaw Park.

At the police station, McIlwane was unable to provide a breath sample because she suffers from asthma but a blood sample showed an alcohol level of 205 compared with the legal limit of 80.

Roger Pickles, defending, said his client was "absolutely horrified" by the position she found herself in. "Her professional body will be notified and they may well impose sanctions of their own," said Mr Pickles.

"The outcome of today's hearing is incredibly important to her because if you impose a community penalty, she will find it difficult to pursue her career which she has worked so hard for."