Gympie mum in court for driving four times the limit

A Gympie mum who picked her two children up from daycare after downing multiple wines while wrapping Christmas presents was more than four times over the legal limit. SEE WHY SHE DID IT

A Gympie woman drunk on wine and more than four times the limit was busted driving with her four children in the car after picking the two youngest up from daycare.

The 39-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence when she fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard police were called to a Gympie day care centre on November 19, 2021 after concerns were raised about the woman being under the influence.

The 39-year-old woman was caught driving four times the legal limit with her children in the car.

But when police arrived, the woman had already driven off with her two young children.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said the woman was found and pulled over on Crescent Rd, where she blew 0.220 - more than four times the legal limit.

“It’s simply unacceptable to be driving in that manner,” Sgt Campbell said.

Defence lawyer Andrew Wiseman said his client began drinking while wrapping Christmas presents earlier in the day.

Mr Wiseman said she felt a depressed while wrapping the gifts, and what was meant to have just been one glass turned into several before she remembered to collect her children.

Gympie Magistrates Court heard the woman was wrapping Christmas presents when she began to feel depressed, and began drinking wine before collecting her children from the early learning centre.

“She can’t explain why she did what she did, she wishes she did not do it,” he said.

He said the woman had since been getting help for her habits by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

She was placed on probation for 15 months and disqualified from driving for 14 months.