Essential health worker Clancy Witney has apologised for her drink-driving blunder

She had been drinking beer and cruisers on the beach before getting behind the wheel.

Clancy Witney.

An essential health worker in Central Queensland has issued an apology for driving while almost three times the legal blood alcohol limit.

Clancy Witney, 31, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on August 19 to drink-driving.

The court heard that Witney blew 0.137 after police intercepted her on Tanby Road at 4.10pm on July 31.

Witney told police she had consumed about three stubbies of beer and three stubbies of cruisers over a few hours while on the beach at Emu Park prior to driving.

With no previous offending of a similar nature on her traffic history, Witney, who represented herself in court, read a prepared statement to Magistrate Ron Muirhead

“Your Honour, standing here in front of you is very humiliating for me, and I’m truly sorry for breaking the law by getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol,” she said.

“I put not only myself, but my passengers in danger, and everyone else on the road as well and I’m truly ashamed.

“I’ve never done anything like this before and, although I’m not making excuses for my actions, I would like you to understand the state of my mind.

“I’ve been going through a bit of a tough time lately, leaving a very hostile marriage situation after 20 years.

“I’ve been separated from my children and had to leave my home at Emerald while I try to rebuild a new life for myself.

“I’ve not been thinking clearly and it now shows I’ve made a terrible mistake by going behind the wheel.

“I also didn’t take into account the fact that I’ve lost a lot of weight, and this has also affected my alcohol tolerance, as I thought over the space of time I was okay to drive.

“As an essential health worker my licence is everything to me as I travel into Rockhampton to work at the Base Hospital and it would be extremely difficult and stressful without a licence, as well as not being able to drive my children places.

“I understand I broke the law, I’m not asking for any leniency, and if you can consider my situation and my good behaviour without previous offences or criminal record.

“I can assure you, you will never see me in this courtroom again.”

Witney also told Mr Muirhead that she did not wish to apply for a work licence and that she had arranged to car pool with work colleagues during the period of her disqualification.

Mr Muirhead said it appeared that Witney was genuine and had shown remorse for her mistake.

He fined her $800 and disqualified her from driving for four months.