Drink and drugs counsellor jailed for causing six car pile-up while more than three times over the limit

A drink and drugs counsellor who caused a six car smash after downing wine and sherry has been branded a ‘danger to the public.’ Lyn Knapton, 53, was so drunk she could not stand up when police got to the scene of a rush hour smash last Christmas.



She had been drinking heavily the night before and was on her way home from work after drinking wine and sherry with clients. But when she swerved to avoid a cyclist she lost control of her black £60,000 BMW X5 and crashed head on into an oncoming vehicle.

As she attempted to pull up safely Knapton crashed her car again causing five other cars to shunt into each other on a street. The drink and drugs counsellor, who claims to be able to help people alcoholics and drug addicts, was jailed for 12 weeks. On her website she claims to use holistic therapy to help clients and boasts: ‘I will be with you through difficult times and help you where you want to be.



‘My focus is you as my client and your needs. I work with the whole you, not just your issues, which is very important to me.’ But Macclesfield magistrates court heard Knapton herself suffered from an alcohol problem and while under stress combining her counselling job and a second role as a support worker for the elderly she began drinking again.