It is almost unbelievable to learn that a motorcycle instructor was almost four times the drink-drive limit during a lesson – and even fell off her bike three times because she was so intoxicated.

Yet the behaviour of Sandra Kenyon is, sadly, all too real.

And though we do not doubt that the evidence the court heard is true and that she was suffering from depression, nothing can excuse such behaviour.

Put bluntly, she was in a position of trust and betrayed it.

Her actions were incredibly dangerous and irresponsible, not just because she should have been setting an example to others but because she was actually with a pupil at the time and their safety should have been her first priority.

And it was not only her own and her pupil’s life that was put at risk, but also the lives of other road users and passers-by.

This episode could have resulted in a horrifying disaster and it is only by luck that such an outcome was avoided.

The comments of presiding magistrate Ian Cowling suggest that the bench takes a similarly serious view of her crime – and no doubt the sentence will reflect that.

But as well as any punishment magistrates hand down, Kenyon must also never be allowed to work in such a capacity again, and we trust that some sort of safeguards will be put in place to ensure that is the case.