DRINK-driver Geraldine Benford, who was caught by police after buying flowers for her father's grave, has walked free after serving just 36 hours of a 28-day prison sentence.

Benford, from Gryms Dyke, Prestwood, had pleaded guilty to driving while three-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit before Central Bucks magistrates on May 2.

But at Aylesbury Crown Court last Friday, an appeal tribunal quashed Benford's jail term and replaced it with 70-hours community service.

The grieving 38-year-old was caught by police after a shunt outside Tesco's, Amersham, on March 18. She had gone to buy flowers for her father's grave.

The court heard how Benford was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle. The two drivers exchanged details and Benford went into the store to do her shopping. But the other driver had smelt alcohol on her breath and called the police. As they arrived they saw Benford get into her BMW and drive off.

Paul Wakerley, prosecuting, said she drove erratically into Whielden Street, Amersham, where police stopped and arrested her. A subsequent reading revealed Benford had 121 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Gerry Collins, in mitigation, said the offence happened against a backdrop of business and personal stress. He told the court that Benford was distressed as it was the seventh anniversary of her father's sudden death which particularly affected her every year.

The court also heard that on the day of the offence, Benford had a couple of drinks but most of the alcohol in her system had been consumed the night before.

Mr Collins explained that his client had been preparing floral tributes to take to her father's grave and went to Tesco on the spur of the moment to buy some more flowers for the visit.

He said: "She feels genuine and sincere remorse and she has had a clear shock being taken into custody. It is not a shock she is going to forget."

Allowing Benford's appeal, Judge David Morton Jack, said: "We propose to allow your appeal on the basis that there is no premeditation or aggravating factor apart from the minor collision which you had.

"We take into account that you have for the last 36 hours been in Holloway and the prison gates have clanged behind you and that has no doubt been an horrific experience."