Wife drove with husband on bonnet

A beautician who drove her sports car for a mile with her husband clinging to the bonnet escaped jail today.

Clarence Doige was wearing only a T-shirt and shorts when wife Rachael, 46, drove off with him clinging to the windscreen wipers.

Police at a local station watched in amazement as she hurtled by with her husband spreadeagled across the front of the red Mazda.

She was one-and-a-half times over the drinkdrive limit when she was arrested after a police chase through Chingford. Mrs Doige emerged from the car in her tennis kit and insulted officers. She then refused to give a breath test.

Doige, who has since separated from her husband, denied dangerous driving but was convicted by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Doige was ordered to perform 60 hours' community service-and was fined £250 for failing to provide a specimen and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

She was disqualified for five years and must pass an extended driving test to regain her licence.

The drama unfolded after the couple spent a day playing at a local tennis tournament.

She said her husband had spent the afternoon sulking in the bar. When they returned home and Mr Doige, 46, opened a can of beer, it proved the final straw for his wife who left the house and jumped into her car.

Mr Doige followed her out and jumped onto the bonnet, the court heard.

His wife said: "He would not get off the car so I drove off."