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Driving ban and 3 months jail for stoned driver
7/2/'07 | The Comet

A YOUNG mother who was stoned on cannabis mounted a verge causing a woman to jump onto her car which then crashed into a fence.

The victim, with whom there had been a history of animosity, was fortunately not injured but her footprints were later found on the bonnet of the red Metro.

The driver, Melanie Giovenco, 25, of The Glebe, Stevenage, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving but was convicted by a jury.

She was back at Luton Crown Court last week and sentenced to three months in prison and banned from driving for a year.

Jonathan Kirk, prosecuting, said the incident happened in Silam Road, Stevenage on July 13 last year.

He said the original allegation had been that she deliberately drove at the pedestrian, but the jury had found her not guilty of common assault relating to that aspect.

Witnesses said she appeared drunk or high on drugs as she swerved onto the verge. After the incident she reversed, with difficulty, and drove off.

When police arrested her at home later she said she had not been drinking but had been smoking cannabis.

She said she had been trying to turn her car round when she was attacked through the window and lost control.

Rebecca Randall, defending, said Giovenco had been in custody having breached a suspended sentence for shoplifting and had now completely detoxed from drugs.

"She is attending group sessions and wants to continue with her recovery on her release and show that she is capable of looking after her daughter," she added.

"She did not deliberately drive at the victim."

Judge John Bevan QC told Giovenco: "The way to demonstrate that you have changed your ways is to lead a lawful way of life when you come out of prison and behave as a sensible woman and decent mother.

"There is no alternative to an immediate custodial sentence for this.