Jesse Helen Fritz in court for alleged drunk drive crash

An alleged drink driver had to have an ambulance called for her today when she attempted to face Ipswich Magistrates Court, forcing her case to be adjourned.

A court heard a young woman with a drinking problem could not be sentenced for serious driving charges today because she was ill after drinking two bottles of vanilla essence.

On Friday, March 18, Ipswich Magistrate Dennis Kinsella was forced to enlarge Jesse Helen Fritz’s bail for a list of charges including; the dangerous operation of a vehicle and adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, failing to comply with duties of driver involved in a crash and give the drivers required particulars to an injured person, and failing to provide specimen of breath for analysis.

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said Ms Fritz had shown up to Ipswich Courthouse with her mother but was too unwell to “participate”.

“She’s quite unwell, according to her mother she got hold of some vanilla essence – I understand an ambulance has been called,” Mr Fairclough said.

“She’s an alcoholic - the subject offending happened after she checked herself out of rehab.”

The court heard Ms Fritz’s lawyers had had trouble contacting her in the lead-up to the important court date.

Magistrate Kinsella noted there had been an indication that Ms Fritz intended to plead guilty to the charges and set the case aside for Friday, March 25.

“She needs to put measures in place to get herself into a position where she can attend court and participate,” he said.