Troubled reality TV star’s money issues revealed after drug driving
The financial concerns of a former reality TV star have been laid bare as she appeals her punishment for driving under the influence of drugs.
Reality
Don't miss out on the headlines from Reality. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A troubled former reality TV personality has told a court she is struggling to raise the funds to pay a lawyer to contest her sentence for driving under the influence of drugs.
Jordan Ray Finlayson appeared in NSW District Court on Wednesday to ask the court to adjourn her appeal against the severity of her 18-month community corrections order.
She told the court she needed two months to earn enough money to pay a lawyer to represent her in the legal battle.
“I just need time to get the funds together,” the former Beauty and the Geek contestant explained.
“I need to come up with the funds of approximately $3000.”
The court heard she had been denied Legal Aid assistance because her non-custodial sentence didn’t meet their criteria.
The former NRL cheerleader said she had since been in contact with solicitor Claudia McCristal, who informed her she requires payment upfront for her services.
She asked for a two month adjournment to allow her to earn enough money to cover the legal expenses.
“I am working casually but I am in the process of getting more work,” Finlayson told the court.
Judge John North agreed to adjourn the appeal until May to allow her to obtain proper instructions.
He noted the ex-Penthouse model is also due to be sentenced next month for unrelated charges.
“You’re getting a bit of trouble brewing with these different matters,” the judge told her.
Finlayson was sentenced in November for driving under the influence of drugs, driving with drugs present in her system, and possession of illegal drugs.
She is appealing the severity of her sentence for the first two convictions after she was handed an 18-month corrections order, 150 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
The former professional dancer was also disqualified from driving for two years.
Court documents reveal she was high on meth when she crashed her white Toyota Yaris into a guardrail in western Sydney just before 4am on February 7 last year.
When police arrived on scene, Finlayson was unconscious in the driver’s seat and woke up to police opening the passenger door.
She began acting erratically and leant over to the passenger side and muttered “hey babe” to the empty seat, according to the documents.
The former reality TV personality struggled to stand up and could not answer questions asked by police, except to say she had drunk alcohol.
A blood test showed she had gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and meth in her system at the time of the crash.
Two months later, Finlayson was again caught driving with crystal meth in her system when she was stopped by police for a random roadside drug test in Sydney’s east.
Since her stint on Beauty and the Geek in 2011 alongside Julian Stevensen, she has been in and out of rehabilitation and court.
Originally published as Troubled reality TV star’s money issues revealed after drug driving
Star mortified by accidental live TV gaffe
She may seem like one of the most confident presenters on TV, but Melissa Leong struggled to shake off her embarrassment over a recent live slip-up.
Mel Leong reflects on MasterChef exit
The former MasterChef judge opens up about leaving the reality series – and her latest role on the new season of Dessert Masters, as she teases what’s next.