A WOMAN has been jailed for 16 weeks after admitting driving under the influence of drugs.

Louise Longfield, 41, was also banned from driving for three years at York Magistrates’ Court.

Longfield had already admitted a drug-drive charge from December last year, but this time pleaded guilty to four counts relating to a similar offence in November.

Martin Hawes, prosecuting, said police received reports of a driver who appeared to be drunk in Bondgate, Selby, on December 12.

He said: “Officers followed her for a while and saw the vehicle career across the centre lane and back to the near side. When trying to get out... she was struggling to stand.”

A urine sample revealed four “pain killer” drugs were in her system – alprazolam, temazepam, diazapam and morphine.

On November 25, Longfield, of Church Mews, Sherburn-in-Elmet, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, taking a vehicle without consent, possessing a class C drug and failing to provide a specimen.

Mr Hawes said police stopped her in Flaxton, near York after her car was seen to be “weaving in and out of traffic”. He said officers found a carrier bag full of tablets. There were 930 alprazolam tablets in all.

She had no permission to drive the car, which had been leased.

Longfield had convictions for theft and battery from last year, for which she had received suspended sentences of 12 and four weeks respectively.

Hayley Curtler, defending, said Longfield suffered pain and arthritis for which she self-medicated.

Longfield was jailed for 12 weeks after her suspended sentence was brought into effect and given a further four weeks for driving while under the influence of drugs.

She was not given a penalty for driving without insurance, but four-week sentences to run concurrently for the other charges.