Tara Harmonie Hode in Gympie court for drink driving

A drunk young equestrian rider, who a court has heard is on a mission to save ex-race horses from being ‘beheaded’, was caught backing into a police car in a Gympie CBD street. Now, she’s been sentenced for the blunder.

A former French equestrian rider has landed in court just two months after arriving in Australia due to damaging a police car while drink driving.

Tara Harmonie Hode pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to driving a car while over the general alcohol limit.

Hode was attempting to reverse out of a parking space in Mary Street at 2.44am on June 19.

Police were conducting foot patrols at this time and saw Hode reversing into the police car in the space behind her.

As she drove forward to attempt leaving the parking space again, police removed her from the vehicle.

Hode showed police a French driver’s licence before a breath test was conducted where she blew 0.87.

She told police she intended to drive up the road to pick up her friend, who would then have driven Hode home.

Hode had moved to Australia only two months prior after working as an equestrian in France.

She wishes to study business and work in an Australian organisation rescuing and retraining racehorses which were set to be “beheaded”, the court heard.

Hode fined $400 and disqualified from holding a licence for 2 months. Convictions were recorded.