Former police officer Lauren Jones pleads guilty to drink driving on Sunshine Coast

A former police officer’s boozy session at a popular Sunshine Coast venue has landed her on the wrong side of the law after she collided with another car.

Lauren Diane Jones faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week. Picture: Patrick Woods

A former Western Australian police officer has been taken off the road following a boozy indiscretion while parking her vehicle after drinking at a popular hinterland venue.

Lauren Diane Jones found herself on the wrong side of a police interview on June 18 after she collided with another car while almost five times the legal blood alcohol limit.

The Palmwoods woman, who served in the Western Australian Police Force for eight years, was drinking at Rick’s Garage on Margaret St at Palmwoods when she was involved in the minor accident about 5.40pm.

Police prosecutor James Allen said witnesses called authorities to report a drink driver, with officers speaking to Jones at the scene who was intoxicated.

She was breath tested and later returned a reading of .233.

Mr Allen said the Palmwoods woman told police she was drinking at Rick’s Garage and tried to drive home.

Jones was given a notice to appear for driving under the influence of liquor and pleaded guilty to this charge in Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week.

Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden claimed the crash was so minor the person whose car was hit did not want to make an insurance claim.

Jones after her sentence. Picture: Sam Turner

Mr Pruden said he was instructed Jones’ vehicle was parked in the 15 minute zone and she wanted to move her car into a two hour space instead.

He said it was her intention to reverse the car into the zone and then walk home as she believed the time limit would expire due to it being in the late afternoon.

It was here the solicitor said Jones’ vehicle made minor contact with the front of the other vehicle.

When this happened she got out of the car and waited for police to arrive.

Mr Allen however took issue with Mr Pruden’s version of events by Jones, and said by pleading guilty she accepted the facts where she stated to police she was trying to drive home.

In reply, Mr Pruden said his instructions were Jones did not say that but the variation was not sufficient to warrant an argument.

The court was told Jones was a police officer in Western Australia for almost a decade when she was “seriously injured” in the line of duty. She was placed in an induced coma at one point.

She later moved to Queensland and had started a life on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Pruden said Jones was of good character, and cited references from two of her former police colleagues.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis said Jones had no similar offences on her history but cited multiple speeding entries.

She disqualified Jones from driving for 11 months and fined her $1300.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Former police officer Lauren Jones pleads guilty to drink driving on Sunshine Coast