Wine-guzzling teen who ‘swapped seats’ after crash is forced to work in charity shop
A teenager who crashed her car while drunk and then swapped seats with the passenger has been ordered to work at a charity shop.
Molly Pickering, 18, attempted to blame her friend for the crash – but paramedics tended to her spotted her move into the front seat of her Ford Fiesta.
The car had swerved into a fence at 2am, with both people in the car initially arrested.
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Pickering was later identified as the driver and spent a night in the cells after refusing to take a breath sampling test, questioning why one was needed.
She had been drinking wine in a pub close by before being put under “peer pressure” to drive home, Tameside Magistrates’ court heard.
![Molly Pickering had been drinking wine at the pub before getting behind the wheel](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article29730739.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Cavendish-Press-Manchester-Ltd.jpg)
(Image: Molly Pickering/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
The apprentice painter and decorator from Stalybridge in Greater Manchester is understood to have since shunned her friendship group.
Mental health issues and “immaturity” were both cited as reasons for her reckless actions as she was slapped with a 20-month driving ban and 60 hours of community service.
Included in the 60 hours of unpaid work will be a stint working in a charity shop.
Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, said: “It was around 2am on January 21 and police officers on patrol came across an ambulance stationary with its emergency equipment activated.
“They stopped and checked the situation and were told by the paramedics that they had seen the vehicle collide with a metal fence. After speaking to the two females present in the vehicle, the paramedics told them they had seen the females switch seats after they arrived.
“At that point both females were arrested. Miss Pickering was in the passenger seat when police arrived but there was the information that they had switched seats.
“They arrested her on suspicion of driving a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.
“At the police station the breath testing procedure commenced but the defendant failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
![Molly Pickering pictured leaving Tameside Magistrates' Court](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article29730740.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_PAY-Cavendish-Press-Manchester-Ltd.jpg)
(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
“She was warned that if she failed to do so she was at risk of prosecution but she still did not provide. She was given ample opportunity but she was questioning the reasons for giving a sample.
“Ultimately it was a wilful refusal.”
A probation report compiled about Picketing read: “On the evening of the offence she had driven to the public house with the intention of leaving the car there and picking it up the following morning.
“Unfortunately, due to the level of alcohol consumed she made the poor decision to drive. It was partly a poor decision, there was also some peer pressure from people she was drinking with who were much older than her. But she appreciates that it was her decision to drive.
“Her intention was to drop the passenger off and drive herself home. Within ten minutes of driving she oversteered a corner and this is when she hit the metal fence.
![](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/bpy6hb4R/poster.jpg)
Pickering’s solicitor David Caplin said: “It appears she is a conscientious and hardworking individual. She has done two years on her apprenticeship and she has one year to go. She is looking forward to qualifying in that profession.
“She has been candid with her employer, which is a very refreshing thing to hear. She is of good character. There are no previous convictions. She is certainly remorseful, as seen clearly in the conversation with the probation service.
“She has dropped those friends and associates she thinks could lead her down the wrong path. I understand very little damage was done and there were no injuries.
“She bumped into some street furniture. I do not think there was any claim of damage.”
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