A NEW mum crashed her SUV during a police chase while on a cocaine binge – before cops discovered her with “white powder on her nose”.
Zara Ferns, 26, ignored a drug driving ban and drove at double the speed limit before smashing into a concrete sign in Runcorn, Cheshire.
Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard Ferns had been allowed home from hospital with her newborn son in November.
But, just weeks later, she left the four-month old with his grandmother while she snorted cocaine at a friends house.
Police arrested Ferns in the early hours following a high-speed chase, during which she drove at twice the speed limit in her silver Omoda 5.
Officers had initially spotted the mum repeatedly veering over the central white line, before she crashed into a concrete sign.
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Miss Chelsea Keans, prosecuting, told the court Ferns had initially stopped for cops, but she then sped away, leading to the 45-second pursuit.
Miss Keans said: “PC Holland in a fully marked police vehicle observed a silver Omoda 5 veer over the central line three times on Boston Avenue.
“He subsequently activated the emergency lights equipment and siren to cause the vehicle to stop.
“The vehicle did initially stop before accelerating away at speed when the officers exited the vehicle.
“She travelled at more than twice the posted speed limit before colliding with a concrete sign before eventually coming to a stop.”
Officers who tested her for drugs noticed she had white powder around her nose – and she tested posoitive for cocaine at a roadside test.
But she later refused consent for a blood test in custody after initially saying she would take one – failing to give a sample for analysis.
And inquiries later revealed she had been driving whilst banned, following a 12-month disqualification imposed for drug driving in February last year.
When quizzed later Ferns said: ”I have no idea why I took it. No idea why I got into the vehicle and no idea why I drove.”
In mitigation, her solicitor Brian O’Connor told the court his client’s head had been “all over the place” at the time of the offence.
Mr O’Connor said: “This young lady has faced a number of difficulties in recent years. This gives some kind of explanation for what her behaviour was like on that day.
“When she was released from the mother and baby unit she was placed on medication.
“But she was taken off that medication a couple of days before this incident because of dangerously high liver function results.
“She had gone around to a friend’s address and been given some cocaine.
“At the time her head was all over the place. She needs the help of the mental health team and allow her to be supported by her family.”
Ferns, from Runcorn, Cheshire faced up to two years in jail after admitting dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.
She also pleaded guilty to failing to stop when required by a constable, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance.
Sentencing, District Judge Ian Barnes said: ”You have got the full house as far as driving offences are concerned in the course of evading the police.
“Clearly given the indication at the road side, there was cocaine in your system and I suspect all of that factored into your decision making.
“But I balance that against your relatively young age, your mental health and the fact your medication was stopped through no fault of your own only days before this incident.
“I think that played at least some part in your decision making and the actions on that day.
“You clearly have significant responsibilities for the young child – and they would be badly impacted if you were to be sent to custody.”
Ferns was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, following pleas she needed to be at home to look after her son.
Ferns was also banned from driving for three years and made to pay £272 in costs and surcharge.
She was told she will need to pass an extended retest before she gets her licence back and will have to attend 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
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