Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe: Ex-Bachelor hopeful admits high-range DUI on the Gold Coast

An ex-contestant on The Bachelor, who owns a swimwear label on the Gold Coast, has told a court she is embarrassed after swerving through roadworks and hitting traffic cones under the influence.

Burleigh Waters woman Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe, 31. Picture: Facebook

A former reality TV contestant has told a court she was “using alcohol as a way to cope” with mental health challenges after pleading guilty to driving while four-and-a-half times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Burleigh Heads woman Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe, 31, who appeared as an intruder on season 8 of hit series The Bachelor, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 26, where she pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of liquor.

Police prosecutor Casey Beck told the court police were performing traffic patrols at Mermaid Beach at about 10.30pm on June 10 when they witnessed a vehicle swerving through light rail roadworks and driving over traffic cones.

Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe with 2020 bachelor Locky Gilbert. Picture: Network 10

They took up with Bunyan-Hoppe, whose breath test returned a reading of 0.225 per cent blood-alcohol content.

Bunyan-Hoppe, who formerly worked in real estate and currently owns her own swimwear label, Burleigh Babe, told the court she was “deeply sorry and embarrassed”.

“This offence does not reflect the person I strive to be,” she said.

She told the court that at the time of the offence, she was “using alcohol as a way to cope [with] … significant mental health complications” stemming from her inability to access ADHD medication, which she said she had been prescribed since 2017.

Burleigh Waters woman Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe, 31, leaving Southport Courthouse. Picture: Alex Treacy

Bunyan-Hoppe said she was working hard at rehabilitating herself, with efforts including a referral to rehab service Lives Lived Well, an upcoming appointment with a psychiatrist, and a prescription for naltrexone, which inhibits alcohol cravings.

She told the court she had also “given away” her vehicle after committing the offence.

“Since the incident I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on my actions,” Bunyan-Hoppe said.

“This experience has been deeply humbling.

“I’m incredibly grateful no one was harmed.”

Magistrate Deborah Mitchell commended Bunyan-Hoppe on her rehabilitation, but expressed disquiet at the extraordinarily high blood-alcohol reading.

“The fact you could operate a vehicle at all is a miracle,” she said.

She fined Bunyan-Hoppe $1500 and disqualified her from driving for six months, with a conviction recorded against her traffic record.

Originally published as Kaitlyn Rose Bunyan-Hoppe: Ex-Bachelor hopeful admits high-range DUI on the Gold Coast