Drink-driving golf pro, 27, once tipped to be the game’s next female star, downed three vodkas with colleagues at prestigious club before ‘swerving across the road’ and narrowly missing the kerb

• Charlotte Leathem, 27, of Cheshire, was more than three times the legal limit
• Leathem was tipped to be the next star of women’s golf when she was just 16 

A professional golfer, once tipped to be the game’s next female star, has been handed a driving ban after downing three vodkas with colleagues before ‘swerving across the road’ and narrowly missing the kerb.

Charlotte Leathem, 27, was found to be more than three times the drink-driving limit when police stopped her Ford Puma after she drove out of a pub car park.

Officers spotted the golfer, of Nether Alderley, Cheshire, driving very close to the central line before swerving and almost colliding with the kerb.

She was said to be slightly unsteady on her feet and slurred her words when taking a breath test.

Failing the test, she was found to have 106 micro-grams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Leathem, 27, was found to be more than three times the legal alcohol limit when police stopped her Ford Puma after she drove out of a pub car park

Pictured outside Crewe magistrates court is Charlotte Leathem a professional golfer once tipped to the next biggest star in the women’s game

Officers spotted the golfer (pictured while competing), who lives in the village of Nether Alderley, Cheshire, driving very close to the central line before swerving and almost colliding with the kerb

At Crewe Magistrate’s Court, Leathem was banned from driving for 26 months after admitting driving with excess alcohol.

The athlete, who turned professional in 2018 after starting golf when she was just four years old, was also ordered to complete a 12-month community with 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £213 in costs and victim surcharge.

The court heard it is feared she could lose her job as assistant manager at the prestigious 120-year-old Hale Golf Club, near Altrincham.

Leathem’s car was seen by police leaving the Coach and Four pub’s car park, in Wilmslow, at around 10.40pm on May 18. Officers noticed it swerving and nearing the central line.

Prosecutor Yvonne Dobson said: ‘The officers stopped the vehicle. The defendant was in the driver’s seat. Whilst dealing with the defendant the officer noted that she was slightly unsteady on her feet and slurring her words.

‘When she was asked for a roadside breath test the defendant admitted that she’d had a drink earlier. The officer completed the roadside test, which the defendant complied with. 

At Crewe Magistrate’s Court, Leathem was banned from driving for 26 months after admitting driving with excess alcohol

The athlete, who turned professional in 2018 after starting golf when she was just four years old, was also ordered to complete a 12-month community with 80 hours of unpaid work

The court heard it is feared she could lose her job as assistant manager at the prestigious 120-year-old Hale Golf Club, near Altrincham

Leathem’s car was seen by police leaving the Coach and Four pub’s car park, in Wilmslow, at around 10.40pm on May 18

‘When she was asked for a roadside breath test the defendant admitted that she’d had a drink earlier,’ the prosecutor said

Ms Dobson added: ‘It was a positive reading of 106, as such she was arrested and taken into custody where the drink drive procedure was commenced. The defendant was of previous good character, she has no previous convictions. She has now lost this.’

A probation report said there was ‘nothing complicated’ about Leathem’s case, adding she has no drink problems and only drinks socially.

‘She works at Hale Golf Club,’ the probation officer said, ‘She has not been there particularly long. She had been at a meeting. 

‘She had three vodkas, poured rather than measured amounts. She knew she was risking it. She lives in a very rural area and she wanted to get home and made the decision to drive. She recognises that it was a foolish decision and she recognises the risks.’

Ms Dobson added that Leathem regrets the decision and she will now struggle to get to work without a car due to its rural location. 

Leathem’s solicitor Claire Aldridge said: ‘The defendant works at Hale Golf Club. She’s the assistant manager which involves lots of nights. Getting to that job now may prove impossible.’

Leathem was offered the drink drive awareness course which will reduce the ban by a quarter.

‘We have heard everything that’s been said about the situation you find yourself in today,’ said Chairwoman Sarah Pochin. 

Ms Dobson added that Leathem regrets the decision and she will now struggle to get to work without a car due to its rural location

Leathem’s solicitor Claire Aldridge said: ‘The defendant works at Hale Golf Club. She’s the assistant manager which involves lots of nights. Getting to that job now may prove impossible

Leathem was offered the drink drive awareness course which will reduce the ban by a quarter

A probation report said there was ‘nothing complicated’ about Leathem’s case, adding she has no drink problems and only drinks socially

‘I am sure that you have been warned it will result in a disqualification.

‘The fact that this reading was high, it passes what we call the community threshold. It falls into what we call a community order because of the high reading. Do not risk driving. It is just not worth it. If you do you will come back to court.’

Leathem featured in her local newspaper in 2011 when aged 16 she was tipped to be the next star of the women’s game. At the time she was playing off scratch, broke course records at Wilmslow and Styal, and was already hitting holes in one at ladies competitions.

She was even beating her father – an ex-club captain at Styal.

At the time she said: ‘I practise five times a week and have specialist physio. I saw the Open on TV and kept looking out for tips on playing. Hopefully, women’s golf will get even bigger.’ 

She has since played on Ladies European Tours.

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