According to a court hearing on Tuesday, a British Airways stewardess who was nearly five times over the legal drinking and driving limit was discovered slumped in her vehicle as it was parked on a roundabout. 

Drivers who were worried about Emma Newton Owen's unpredictable driving had called the police.

An ambulance team subsequently called them again after discovering that her automobile was obstructing other vehicles on a roundabout, making it impossible for them to complete their trip.

A taxi driver had pushed her car to the side of the road when police arrived, and Newton Own was slumped over the driving wheel.

Although she told officers she had been drinking, it was originally believed she had a medical episode.

Newton Owen, a 45-year-old mother one, was arrested at the scene on September 19 still in her BA uniform.

Prosecutor Natalie Roepke 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.

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Guildford Magistrate's Court was told Newton Owen was driving back to her home in Horley, Surrey, from Heathrow Airport after being part of a BA crew on a short haul flight on September 19th.

Her 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,' said Finn.

'All of it became too much and she took the decision to drive.

'This was a cry for help.'

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.'

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.