A high school chemistry teacher found drunk with two children in the back of her car has been spared jail and allowed to keep her driving licence after magistrates ruled being banned from the road would see her lose her job.

Katherine Campbell, 38, who had been drinking gin, was reported to police by a passerby after she was seen to stumble as she was putting the youngsters inside her BMW 3 series.

A roadside breath test showed Campbell, who teaches at the 1,534 pupil Alsager School near Crewe, Cheshire, was more than three times the drink drive limit.

However, she denied ever intending to drive the car.

At South Cheshire Magistrates Court, Campbell, from Macclesfield, who already had six points on her licence, admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and two charges of being drunk in charge of a child.

But she was allowed to carry on driving under 'exceptional hardship' rules despite her licence being endorsed with a further ten penalty points - meaning she will be behind the wheel of her car with 16 points.

She was also ordered to wear a so-called 'sobriety tag' under the terms of a 90-day alcohol abstinence order.

During the hearing Campbell claimed if she was disqualified from driving she would need to take 'two trains and two buses' to make the 17 mile commute rather than her usual 40-minute trip by car.

The incident occurred at 6.27pm on May 2 this year when Campbell visited her parents' house in the Prestbury area to feed some cats, the court was told.Miss Annika Livermore, prosecuting, said: “Police received a 999 call report as there was a black BMW with a female driver who appeared to be intoxicated with two children in the car.

"The member of the public approached the female and took the car key from her, preventing her from driving the vehicle. A passerby took the children into a nearby house.

“Police who attended said the defendant was heavily intoxicated. Her speech was slurred, she was unsteady on her feet, and her eyes were glazed. There was a strong smell of intoxicants." The children's car seats were 'not clipped in' she added.

A roadside breath tests showed Campbell had 117 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliltres of breath, the legal limit being 35.

Two evidential readings taken at a police station were 107 and 97. The court heard Campbell had a previous speeding offence on her record and at the time of her arrest had six points on his licence for failing to give information about a driver.

In mitigation, her lawyer John Wright said: “She is a chemistry teacher at a secondary school and still presently retains that job." He said she had gone to her parents' home 'who were currently away at the time so could feed their cats.

"She then saw some friends who are neighbours and drank two or three gin and soda waters" he said. "She concedes they were home measures, perhaps far larger than usual.

"She is fully aware that she had too much to drink. She was putting the children in the car, but definitely had no intention of driving whatsoever.

“Police suggest that the car seats were not strapped in, but these were booster seats which have to be strapped in with seat belts. The children did not have seat belts on at that time, the car was not moving.

"Whilst getting the children in the car, it was quite hectic, and she stumbled slightly and hit her shin on the door sill of the car. A member of the public grabbed the key from inside the car - but it should be said the key was not in the ignition.

"It was the passerby’s assumption there was an intention to drive, although there never was. When the police arrived, she accepted having had a drink, but she has not had a drink since. She says it is just not worth it. She does not have an issue with alcohol.''

Mr Wright added: ''She is absolutely beside herself with worry, and concerned about what will happen today and what will happen in her job.

"It usually takes 40 minutes to get to school by car, but if she used public transport it would be two trains, two buses. She may have to look for another job. It would be difficult to commute to Alsager School.''

Campbell was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, with requirements she attends 20 days of rehabilitation with the probation service. She was also made to pay £199 in costs and a surcharge.

Chair of the bench, Susan Taylor, said: “We do accept the case of exceptional hardship because you will probably lose your employment so so you will not be losing your licence today.

"But please be mindful that you are driving around with 16 points on your licence. If you come before the court again for any offence to do with driving, you will get a lengthy ban, and I mean lengthy. Please do not be back in here again.”