A DRIVER caught “zig-zagging” on a busy road while holding a hippy crack balloon and a mobile phone has avoided jail.
Maria Sciarrillo, 24, remained stationary at red lights in her Range Rover Evoque for a minute when she was spotted by another driver.
When police caught up with her, the beautician had been swerving between lanes and crossed the centre line.
Officers discovered a cannister of nitrous oxide in her flash car during the incident in Chester.
Sciarrillo pleaded guilty to possession of class C drug nitrous oxide and driving without due care and attention.
She avoided jail and was instead handed a six points on her licence and a £300 pound fine after she claimed she had resorted to recreational drugs following an abusive relationship.
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According to court records a 28-year old man was charged with stalking Sciarillo in October 2023 but was cleared after no evidence was offered.
He subsequently pleaded to assaulting her in another incident at Christmas last year.
Chris Howard, prosecuting, said: “On November 23, at approximately 5.30 in the evening, a member of the public witnessed the defendant’s vehicle, a Range Rover Evoque, stopped stationary at the traffic lights.
“He states that the defendant was holding a phone in her right hand and holding a red balloon in her left hand. The lights turned green but when the witness has driven forward the defendant’s vehicle remained stationary.
“He then witnessed the defendant’s vehicle pull off and drive in a zig zag and subsequently he calls the police. Police subsequently located the vehicle and followed her for a short while.
“Travelling on a 30 mph limit road, she was driving significantly below the speed limit using poor lane discipline, moving from the right lane to the left lane and straddling the centre line using no indication. The defendant’s vehicle was subsequently stopped.”
Chester Magistrates’ Court was told Sciarrillo had been issued with a 12 month driving ban two years ago for drug-driving.
That time, she was found to have 44 micrograms of Ketamine per litre of blood in her system, the legal limit being 20mg.
In mitigation, defence solicitor Selena Woodward said: “She is extremely remorseful but at the time there was an issue with her mental health.
”Her drug use began when she was involved in an abusive relationship. Prior to entering that relationship she had not done drugs. But now she realises that she needs help.
“She is attending therapy sessions to deal with past trauma.”
Sciarrillo, who runs her own beauty salon, was also ordered to pay costs of £205.
JP Ian Knight told her: We note that you are working to resolve your problems, that is appreciated. Best of luck with that.”
