Nursing student Erin Alexandra Laycock pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving after a crash at Cremorne

The mother of two was more than four times the limit when her vehicle crashed.

A Mackay mother of two drove while more than four times the limit because she wanted to get a sandwich from a nearby servo.

A Mackay nursing student was more than four times the limit when the SUV she was driving crashed at Cremorne while she was on her way to buy a sandwich.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard a rear tyre had come off the used car, Erin Alexandra Laycock had bought two days earlier.

The 30 year old mother of two had drunk a bottle of wine in the wake of serious personal issues and decided to drive to a nearby servo to buy a sandwich.

But the rear tyre came off recently bought Nissan X-Trail causing a crash on Barnes Creek Road on January 13, 2021.

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The court heard when police arrived she returned a positive roadside breath test – the results indicated a 0.215 per cent blood alcohol reading.

Laycock pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.

Defence solicitor Antoinette Morton, of Fisher Dore Lawyers, said her client had significant familial issues and had been seeking help for her own mental health at the time.

Laycock was in her third year as a nursing student and multiple references stated her exemplary character but for this offence.

The court heard her traffic history only had a single entry for speeding.

Laycock had been without her licence for three months. Under Queensland Law, drivers in the high range drink-driving category are immediately suspended from the offence date.

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Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said the “very high reading” was significantly over the starting point high range drink-driving, which is 0.15 per cent.

She accepted Laycock’s driving had not caused the crash, given she was only charged with driving UIL.

Ms Hartigan also accepted Laycock had been using alcohol to excess to deal with a number of personal issues.

Laycock was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for the mandatory minimum six months.

Ms Hartigan said the mitigating circumstances warranted the lowest disqualification period. She also exercised her discretion and did not record a conviction.

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Originally published as Nursing student Erin Alexandra Laycock pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving after a crash at Cremorne