Carol Preston disqualified from driving for a year after crashing through fence at Barnacle Bill

A magistrate says a 62-year-old drunk driver is “lucky” to be alive after smashing through fences at Barnacle Bill on the hunt for more booze.

A 62-year-old drunk driver is “lucky” she is alive, a magistrate said, after she became airborne, smashing through fences at Barnacle Bill takeaway, on the hunt for more booze.

Carol Noleen Preston said she made a terrible mistake when deciding to drive while four times the legal limit, causing her to plough through fences and hit parked cars.

Preston was attempting to leave a drive-through bottle shop when she ploughed through fences into the Barnacle Bill car park. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A police prosecutor told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday that Preston was driving on February 16 at 11.30pm when she crashed.

“The accused lost control of her vehicle when driving through a bottle shop, resulting in her colliding with two fences and two vehicles,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard Preston also smashed into tables and chairs at the Plympton Barnacle Bill restaurant next door.

“She was observed to be unsteady on her feet, slurring her words,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Preston returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.215

“She states that she had driven to the bottle shop to purchase more alcohol, she had attempted to stop – she must have put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Preston had drunk a bottle of wine before the crash, in which fortunately no one was injured.

The scene where Preston ploughed through a fence and smashed into cars and outdoor furniture at Barnacle Bill in Plympton. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Preston, of Glenelg North, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drink driving and driving without due care.

Self-represented, Preston told the court she was facing some difficulties in her life at the time of the offending and had resorted to alcohol.

“It all just got too much for me and I made a huge, horrible, terrible mistake,” she said.

“I know the law – I’ve worked for law all my life.”

The court heard Preston was now on the disability support pension.

Preston said she was very remorseful for her actions and had received help for her alcohol intake.

The car after it accelerated through the fence. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

“When we have problems in life, alcohol is not a solution because it creates more problems,” Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said.

“Look at you now – you’ve got a situation where you have damaged so much property and you’re lucky you didn’t kill yourself and others.”

Ms Kossiavelos disqualified Preston from driving for 12-months and fined her $1100.