Cleaning agency boss who fled ‘drink driving crash’ avoids highway ban

A cleaning firm boss who fled the scene of a suspected drink-driving crash has escaped a road ban after claiming she tried to give herself up at her local police station just hours after the accident – only to find it was closed.

Jemma Roberts Dodd, 37, crashed her Kia Sportage car into a signpost on a Saturday night in Chester. 

She then walked the rest of the journey home leaving the vehicle abandoned and unlocked for police to find shortly afterwards.

The businesswoman from the village of Hoole said she went to her nearest police station three miles away at Blacon, Chester the morning after the smash to report it – but found the building was shut on a Sunday.

In the meantime officers attempted unsuccessfully to ring Roberts-Dodd only for her to turn up again at the same station on the Monday – 36 hours after the crash – to admit she was the driver.

Jemma Roberts Dodd (pictured) crashed her car into a signpost on a Saturday night and fled the scene 

The mother-of-four abandoned her car in the village of Hoole, Chester, less than half a mile from her home and walked back to her house

The 37-year-old had been driving home on February 24 and crashed into a sign less than half a mile from her home. 

A court heard that the mother-of-four had fled the scene because she felt ‘very confused’ and despite attempting to, was unable to report the crash because her local police station was shut. 

According to the Cheshire Police website Blacon Police station – one of just six in the county – is only open 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. 

When police found the car, it was empty and unlocked and a mobile phone was found lying under the driver’s seat. 

Police were unable to contact Roberts-Dodd but did manage to speak to her boyfriend who said she told him she would have been over the alcohol limit had she had been breathalysed at the scene of the crash.

Police said Roberts-Dodd would have been ordered to take a breath test had she remained at the scene. It is not known whether she was breathalysed.

When quizzed as to why she fled the scene, she said she was ‘very confused’ after suffering a head injury during the smash. 

Roberts-Dodd had no previous convictions. Appearing without legal representation, she was asked by the court clerk why she did not stay at the scene of the accident.

She replied: ‘I had quite a bad head injury. I did not realise how bad it was. I went home and changed my coat. This, I do not remember.

The nearest police station to the incident was three miles away at Blacon Police Station (pictured) but the it is only open 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday

Officers spoke to Roberts-Dodd’s boyfriend who said she told him she would have been over the alcohol limit had she had been breathalysed at the scene of the crash

‘I was very confused all week and my friend stayed. I could not even remember the passcode to the TV. I just could not remember.

‘I went on Sunday to the police station but it was not open and I was told to go back tomorrow. I went back and explained there had been an accident. I knew I had to report it to the insurance company. I did not realise that I had to immediately report it to the police as well. My ex-husband used to deal with this sort of thing.’

At Chester magistrates court Roberts-Dodd who admitted failing to stop after a road accident faced a six month disqualification under sentencing guidelines but instead was given eight points on her licence and fined £150. 

She was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £145. 

The court clerk asked her how a driving disqualification would impact her and she told the court that she is a self-employed cleaner and would have to give up work if she lost her licence.

She said she has four children, three of whom are school age and one pre-school, and that she would also have less time to take up jobs if she had to walk her children to school.

‘I provide all my own cleaning products, a hoover and mops. I do not feel it would be realistic without a licence,’ she added. ‘The school is within walking distance, it is a 20-minute walk, but I would not be able to go straight to work so I would not be able to take as many jobs.’

Val Tonkinson, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant attended Blacon Police Station on 26 February and confirmed that she was the owner of the vehicle. She confirmed that she had the collision with the vehicle and did not seek medical attention afterwards.

‘A notice of intended prosecution was sent to the defendant’s address and she replied confirming that she was the driver at the time. The defendant was not interviewed in relation to the offence.

JP Fran Miller told her: You have to be very careful. Watch out you don’t get points for having low tyre tread or for speeding.

‘You could easily get up to 12 points and you are likely to be disqualified under the totting procedure. So, be careful.’