A RESTAURANT manager was found to be three times over the drink drive limit after police found her car blocking a junction.

Erika Biro, 30, of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was found asleep inside her Mini which was on the B4224 How Caple to Fownhope Road just after 3.30am on June 27.

The manager at the Old Market branch of Chimichanga in Hereford admitted to drinking three large glasses of wine earlier in the evening with other restaurant managers.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday said that Biro came to the attention of police officers on patrol.

When they approached the junction officers thought Biro's car had been abandoned with its hazard lights flashing and no other lights on in the vehicle.

"They stopped and approached the vehicle with the intention of trying to find the defendant who was slumped in the passengers seat asleep," said Ms Ashton.

"The doors were locked so officers knocked on the window to wake her up. The ignition was on and the car jolted forward before Biro lowered the window.

"When they spoke to her there was a strong smell of alcohol from her and they believed she was intoxicated. When questioned she admitted to having a drink before driving home and stopped there."

Biro blew 101 microgrammes of breath in 100 millilitres of breath, above the 35 limit.

On interview Biro said that she had stayed after work to watch the football and consumed three large glasses of wine. She was driving towards Gloucester where she was staying with a friend when she started to feel tired so pulled over to sleep.

"After the restaurant closes on a Sunday they do stock taking and the other business managers have a drink together," said Chris Read, mitigating.

"She felt capable of driving back to Gloucester but during the course of the journey didn't feel well and pulled into the junction to have a sleep for a couple of hours."

Magistrates ordered Biro to complete a 12 month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay £135 costs and £85 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Her ban could be reduced by 24 weeks on completion of a drink drive rehabilitation course.