THE manager of internationally renowned artist McKenzie Thorpe's gallery has been banned from driving for two years after she admitted drink-driving.

Wendy Bowker, 42, a former prison officer who consults on ITV series Bad Girls, manages Mr Thorpe's gallery in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Yesterday, she appeared at Northallerton Magistrates' Court, where she pleaded guilty to being more than two-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit.

Jane Cook, prosecuting, told the court that police officers saw Miss Bowker "staggering from one side of the pavement to the other" in Richmond Market Place at 11.50pm on December 18 last year.

Ten minutes later, they heard a car alarm and went to investigate.

They saw Miss Bowker reversing her silver MGF across Castle Hill Road, stopping just before she hit the front of a shop.

She was arrested and taken to Northallerton Police Station, where it was found she had 92mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Peter Bradford, in mitigation, said Miss Bowker, who lives at The Green, Richmond, had driven into the town for a night out, intending to get a taxi home.

He said that towards the end of the evening, she became hungry and bought a takeaway curry, which she decided to eat while sat in her car.

While she was eating, he said, an unknown man approached the car and got in. She threw curry at him and he left the car.

Mr Bradford said: "She released the handbrake and effectively rolled backwards.

"The only reason she did that was because of the fact that this male had approached her car. That was the full extent of her driving.

"She would be anxious to stress that she has always been conscious and mindful of her responsibilities when it comes to drink driving."

Chairwoman of the bench Rosemary Dobson banned her from driving for two years and ordered her to pay £450 and £250 costs.

She said: "Ninety two is a very high reading."

Speaking after the hearing, Miss Bowker said she was very disappointed with the outcome.