Hampshire Police Officer Admits Guilt in Drink Driving Case
A Hampshire police officer has pleaded guilty to drink driving while on duty
Hampshire, Andover, Popham, UK, Police, Drink Driving
Andover: Lauren Payne, 26, was a police constable in Hampshire. On January 17, she was found drunk in her patrol car at Popham Services.
She was suspended immediately and has since resigned from the police force.
In court, it was revealed that Payne was on duty from 7 am to 5 pm that day. However, she ignored a call from her sergeant to return to the station.
Later, she was discovered slumped in the driver’s seat of her marked car.
A breath test showed she had 123mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Though she had no prior convictions, her role as an officer made the situation worse.
Payne had been with the police since March 2024. Her defense mentioned her struggles with substance abuse and mental health.
She had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous but faced stress from work and a relationship breakdown.
The defense asked for a delay in sentencing since Payne was starting a 28-day rehab program.
The magistrate questioned her fitness to serve as a police officer, given her history.
While acknowledging her guilty plea, he suggested she might face jail time for abusing her position.
Payne was released on bail until her sentencing on April 1. Her driving license has been revoked, and the length of her disqualification will be decided then.