Executive at addiction charity caught drunk driving, crashing car and hiding behind a bush

A woman working with a charity that seeks to help people with alcohol and drug issues was caught drinking and driving in Cheshire, a county in England. The Telegraph reported that Eliza Loftus crashed her car into a tree and went hiding in the bushes after a night of drinking on April 7.

She has now been handed a 40-month ban from driving and has to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

The alcohol level in her blood was found to be almost three times over the legal limit. Loftus is the marketing director and chief fundraiser at Be Well Stay Well.

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The organisation offers counselling to alcohol and drug addicts in Nantwich. The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to drink driving at Crewe Magistrates’ Court last week.

The court was told that on the said night, Loftus lost control of her white Ford Ka just after midnight while going around a bend and smashed the car into a tree. Fearful of getting caught by the police, she then abandoned the vehicle and went hiding in the bushes.

Tara Thomas, the prosecutor, told the court that when the police arrived at the scene, a person told them that Loftus was hiding in the bush.

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The police officer approached the area and, "approximately 20 metres away from the crash, and shouted ‘police, come out’," Thomas said.

"A female, who is the defendant before the court, emerged and said, ‘I am sorry’."

She came out, "unsteady on her feet" and was tested for alcohol in her blood. The test found 215 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, nearly three times the legal limit of 80 mg.

Her lawyer, Patrick Kelly, told the court that she "lost control" around a bend after leaving a pub following an argument with friends.

"It is right that she was hiding behind a bush but that was due to her panic and nothing else," he said.

"When police called her she immediately came out."

Loftus has now turned to the charity she works for to get help for alcoholism. Kelly told the court, "She also works with charity Be Well Stay Well, supporting people with addictive personalities or who have fallen into addiction."

"She has now turned to them herself and has received assistance from them."

Notably, Loftus was earlier convicted in April 2022 for drunk driving and then the following month for driving under the influence of cannabis.