Drunk British Airways air hostess found slumped over steering wheel on a roundabout

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A drunk British Airways air hostess was found slumped over the steering wheel of her car on a roundabout. When stopped by police, Emma Newton Owen told officers: "I am going to be honest, it's going to come back positive" before she was breathalysed.

The 45-year-old was almost five times over the drink-drive limit. A court was told the stewardess had been driving erratically and concerned drivers contacted police.

Officers then received a second call from paramedics, who found Newton Owen's car was blocking others on a roundabout and unable to continue their journey near Guildford, Surrey. When police reached the scene, the car had been moved to the side of the road by a taxi driver.

It was initially thought she had a medical episode, however she admitted to cops that she had been drinking alcohol. The mum-of-one was arrested at the scene still in her BA uniform, Mail Online reports.

She had been driving back to her home in Horley, Surrey, from Heathrow Airport after being part of a crew on a short haul flight that day. Natalie Roepke, prosecuting, told the court Newton Owen told police before being breathalysed: "I am going to be honest, it's going to come back positive."

A blood alcohol test at a police station later showed she was almost five times over the legal drink drive limit. Newton Owen's solicitor Annie Finn told the court she had dreaded going home as she was a victim of ongoing domestic violence.

She said her decision to drink and drive was a "cry for help" and she had made the wrong decision. The court was told Newton Owen was now separated from her husband Gawain after he was arrested following allegations of domestic violence, including hitting his wife with a bottle and threatening to kill her.

"There was a lot going on with controlling behaviour. All of it became too much and she took the decision to drive. This was a cry for help," Ms Finn said.

She added: "She is now a single mum with a six-year-old daughter. Her husband is no longer living at the home address and she is being supported by her parents."

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The court was told Newton Owen had no previous convictions and was hard working and of good character. Newton Owen, who wore a black and red check jacket with hair tied in a ponytail, wiped away tears as she stood in the dock and pleaded guilty to drink driving.

The court was told she was now on long term sick leave from British Airways where she has worked as a flight attendant for 20 years. Newton Owen said it was not safe for her to continue in her role as flight crew.

Chief magistrate Carol Magras adjourned the hearing for eight weeks for the probation service to make a pre-sentence report. Newton Owen, who was accompanied to court by her parents, refused to comment outside court. She will next appear in January for sentencing.

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