28 July 2023 , 13:14
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Noel Gallagher' s ex-wife Meg Mathews downed booze to cope with "nerves" of her first public speaking appearance in years - before crashing into a parked car, a court heard.
Meg, 57, has been banned from the wheel after ploughing her yellow jeep into a stationary grey Ford Kuga while more than twice over the drink drive limit. Just minutes earlier, she had left a book promotion event at the Teylu homeware and fashion shop in Nansleden, Cornwall.
She was breathalysed at the scene in Newquay on the evening of 7 July and subsequently arrested. At Bodmin Magistrates Court on Friday [July 28], Meg, who appeared via videolink wearing a striped blue shirt and large black-rimmed glasses, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving under the influence.
Meg Matthews and ex-husband Noel Gallagher pictured together in 1997 (Steve Fenton/REX/Shutterstock)The defendant, of Newquay, Cornwall, was given a financial penalty totalling £701 and banned from driving for 20 months. In a statement of hers, read to the court, she said: "I take full responsibility and accountability for what I did - and apologise again for my bad judgement. I will never do that again."
The court heard she had consumed a couple of drinks that had "higher alcohol" content that she realised, before driving "around the bend" to show off her new jeep to a friend she was due to stay with that evening. She then lost control and hit the stationary car, the court heard.
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Samantha Rogers, for the prosecution, told magistrates: "A local resident phoned police after she collided with a parked car. The vehicle was driven by the defendant. The defendant was seen getting out of the driver's seat." Ms Rogers said officers arrived and took a reading of 77 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35.
She added: "She is later interviewed and said she went to a book signing at 5.30pm and had a couple of drinks. She then drove round the corner." The court heard she had no previous convictions and was given full credit for her early guilty plea.
Meg pleaded guilty to one charge of driving under the influence (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
She was banned from driving for 20 months (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Stratford)Defending her, Steve Cox said: "She was at a book signing and a number of people turned up." He said she was "nervous" as it was the first time she had spoken in public for a number of years, and she had a "couple of drinks" that had "a lot more alcohol in than she thought."
"She intended to stay at her friend's house, which was round the corner," he added. Mr Cox said her friend asked to see her new car and that was the reason she drove. She crashed on the first bend that Mr Cox said resulted in "minor damage and scrapes."
He added: "She stopped immediately and the owners came out and called the police. She was arrested and taken to custody. She was upset that some people at the scene were taking photos of her." Mr Cox said previous reports in the media that she had been "rolling around" on the floor and screaming hysterically "did not happen."
Sentencing, chair of the magistrates Paul Shenton told her: "You will be disqualified from driving for 20 months. Your case had two aggravating factors. You were carrying a passenger and collided with another vehicle. You are of previous good character and we feel this is the correct period of disqualification."
Meg was offered the opportunity to carry out a drink driving awareness course to reduce the term. Mr Shenton told her: "If you do drive this is a serious offence and could result in imprisonment. Do not drive until you have your licence back and in hand. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand," she responded. The financial penalty consisted of a £440 fine, plus a £176 surcharge and £85 in costs, which Mathews said she would pay within 14 days.
The book launch referred to had been advertised on her Instagram under the heading Cards, Margs & Menopause, in reference to a tarot reading, Margarita cocktail making and a book signing.
Former music executive Meg shares model daughter Anais Gallagher, 23, with ex-husband Noel.
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