A mother who smashed her car into another on Herne Bay seafront while drunk blamed a new diet.

Sarah Avey, 39, said she had hardly eaten when she knocked back five half-pints of Strongbow cider before getting behind the wheel of her Volkswagen Polo.

She also claimed to have no memory of the crash in Central Parade at 9.40pm on January 10.

The mother-of-two was arrested and failed a breath test, giving a reading of 81mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told Canterbury Magistrates' Court: "When police attended, one of the vehicles involved was being driven by Ms Avey.

"She admitted she was the driver and admitted being drunk to officers.

"She told police she had driven along the seafront on her way home, and couldn't recall how it had happened..." - Julie Farbrace, prosecuting

"She was interviewed, and said she had eaten very little because she was on a new diet.

"She had met a friend in Herne Bay earlier and had five half-pints of Strongbow cider.

"She told police she had driven along the seafront on her way home, and couldn't recall how it had happened."

Avey's lawyer Nigel Numas told the court: "Ms Avey was in Herne Bay when she bumped into a friend who she hadn't expected to see.

"She went to the pub and then took a stupid decision to drive home.

"Today is a sad occasion when someone comes before the courts for what is a moment of stupidity.

"This was her first offence. She accepts that she is fully responsible."

Avey was banned from driving for 17 months, fined £355 and hit with costs of £85.

She had been previously arrested on suspicion of murder after her boyfriend Haydyn Vintiner died from stab wounds at their home in Central Parade.

But she was never charged and an inquest later ruled Mr Vintiner had stabbed himself.