A Hampshire police officer who was found in a marked police car while nearly four times the drink drive limit has been spared jail.

Lauren Payne, 26, of The Shires, Grateley, appeared in Reading Magistrates' Court for sentencing today.

Payne was serving as a police constable when she was found intoxicated, in full uniform, in her marked car, a Ford Focus, at Popham Services on the A303 on January 17.

She was immediately suspended from duty and has since resigned from the force.

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Payne was on duty that day from 7am to 5pm but failed to respond to a call from her sergeant to return to Andover police station while she was on the way back from an assignment in Hart and Rushmoor.

Concerned for her welfare, police officers were sent to her location and discovered Payne slumped in the driver’s seat of a marked Ford Focus at Popham services.

A breath test showed Payne had 123mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, far exceeding the legal limit of 35mg.

She had consumed gin mixed in a bottle with diet coke.

Her defence counsel explained that Payne had consumed the alcohol in the car at Popham Services but had not turned the engine on or attempted to drive, however, Payne pleaded guilty to the offence of drink driving as she "did not in any way want to be perceived as reducing her actions."

The court heard that Payne, who had a history with mental health issues, anxiety, OCD, anorexia and alcoholism, wanted the details of her background shared in order to help others who might be struggling with similar issues.

Payne had been sober until January 11 when, after midnight, she collided with a deer that jumped in the road and her car was written off. The court heard that this incident caused trauma, and Payne suffered flashbacks "as vivid as an action replay on TV" and often "could still smell the airbag burning." The court heard that it was this incident that led to her relapse.

The court heard that Payne was of good character and had 15 character references testifying to this.

Becoming a police officer was her "dream job" and she wanted to be one since she was young as she wanted to "help people who were vulnerable."

It was determined by the judge that "only a custodial sentence is appropriate for this offence."

Having pleaded guilty, Payne was handed a 10 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months with the conditions that she completes 15 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work.

She is also subject to an alcohol abstainance monitoring requirement until July 30.

Payne must also pay £85 in court costs and a £254 surcharge and has had her driving licence revoked for 30 months.