Alcoholism charity executive caught drink driving and hiding from police in bush

An Executive at Alcoholism Charity Caught Drink Driving

An executive at an alcoholism charity was caught drink driving and hiding in a bush from police.

Incident Details

• Eliza Loftus, 26, was almost three times over the legal limit when she crashed her car into a tree and fled into shrubbery in Middlewich, Cheshire.
• She is the marketing director and chief fundraiser at Be Well Stay Well, which offers counselling to alcohol and drug addicts in nearby Nantwich.
• Ms Loftus was banned from driving for 40 months last Thursday when she pleaded guilty to drink driving at Crewe Magistrates’ Court.
• The court heard that Ms Loftus was driving home from a night out at a pub on April 7 when her white Ford Ka careered into a tree shortly after midnight.

Police Intervention

Tara Thomas, prosecuting, told the court that when police arrived at the scene, a member of the public told them Ms Loftus was hiding in a bush.

“The officer approached the bush, approximately 20 metres away from the crash, and shouted ‘police, come out’,” Ms Thomas said.

“A female, who is the defendant before the court, emerged and said, ‘I am sorry’.”

Blood Alcohol Content

Ms Loftus, who was said to have been “unsteady on her feet”, was found to have 215mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, making her nearly three times the legal limit of 80mg.

Defense Statement

Patrick Kelly, defending, told the court that the defendant had “lost control” when going around a bend after having an argument with friends at the pub.

“It is right that she was hiding behind a bush but that was due to her panic and nothing else,” he said.

“When police called her she immediately came out.”

Mr Kelly added that Ms Loftus had turned to her own charity for help in response to the crash and that it was “never going to be repeated”.

“She also works with charity Be Well Stay Well, supporting people with addictive personalities or who have fallen into addiction,” he told the court.

Prior Convictions

The court heard that Ms Loftus had two previous convictions for driving under the influence. She was convicted of drink driving in April 2022 and driving under the influence of cannabis the following month.

Sentencing

The court banned Ms Loftus from driving for 40 months and ordered her to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – The incident involving Ms Loftus highlights the importance of addressing alcoholism and drug addiction, which are significant public health concerns.
2. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The court’s decision to ban Ms Loftus from driving and order her to complete unpaid work demonstrates the importance of upholding justice and maintaining strong institutions.

Conclusion

It is crucial to continue working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in areas related to health, well-being, and justice, to prevent incidents like this and promote a safer and more sustainable society.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial, and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services.

The article addresses the issue of drink driving and the consequences faced by Eliza Loftus, who is the marketing director and chief fundraiser at Be Well Stay Well, an alcoholism charity. The issue of drink driving is connected to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, specifically Target 3.5, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including harmful use of alcohol. The article highlights Loftus’ conviction for drink driving, indicating the negative consequences of alcohol abuse and the need for prevention and treatment measures.

Additionally, the article touches on the legal proceedings and the role of institutions in addressing the issue. This connects to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, particularly Target 16.6, which focuses on developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. The article mentions the court proceedings and the actions taken by the legal system, highlighting the importance of accountable and transparent institutions in addressing the issue of drink driving.

The specific targets and indicators identified in the article are Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions for substance use disorders. The article mentions Eliza Loftus’ role in an alcoholism charity, indicating the importance of prevention and treatment measures for alcohol abuse.

Furthermore, Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions and Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services are relevant to the article. The article discusses the legal proceedings and the actions taken by the court, highlighting the role of institutions in addressing the issue of drink driving.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yahoo.com