Former lawyer faces Queensland court for obstructing police

A magistrate has described a drunk former lawyer as a “complete nuisance” who “wasted valuable police resources”.

Nicola Heath faced Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 9.

A former lawyer has faced a Queensland court after she made a “complete nuisance” of herself while drunk and “wasted valuable police resources”.

Nicola Heath, 56, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 9 to two counts of obstructing police and drink-driving.

The court heard that about 7.30pm on February 4, police were called to Meikleville Hill, Yeppoon, in relation to a report of a woman driving a van while intoxicated.

It was told that police found Heath lying down in the rear of the van and she told officers that she had earlier driven from The Railway Hotel on James Street.

Railway Hotel, Yeppoon.

After returning a positive breath test, Heath started yelling and swearing at police, the prosecution said.

“Police made attempts to escort (Heath) to the police vehicle nearby... she continued yelling and thrashing her arms,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard that Heath “dropped to the ground” to resist police multiple times.

After being taken to Yeppoon Police Station, Heath argued with police and refused to let go of a dog leash she was holding onto.

She had to be restrained and taken to a locked holding cell because of her behaviour, the court heard.

Then when required to provide another sample of breath, Heath became agitated and left the testing room in a bid to leave the police station.

She was taken back to the breath analysis room and returned a blood alcohol reading of .182.

Nicola Heath.

Solicitor Myles Heath said Heath worked on Great Keppel Island as a hostess and she returned to the mainland once a month.

Mr Heath said Heath’s van was set up for her to sleep in the back.

The solicitor said Heath was highly intoxicated on the night of the incident and she had been concerned about her dog being left with the vehicle and the fear it was unlocked.

“She concedes it probably (wasn’t) the best way to communicate that with police,” Mr Heath said.

The solicitor said Heath was a former lawyer who had primarily practised property law.

Before imposing a penalty, Magistrate Grace Kahlert said Heath had been “a complete nuisance” on the night of the incident.

“You wasted valuable police resources - they do a very important job for our community and when people carry on like that, it wastes their time,” Ms Kahlert said.

The magistrate ordered Heath perform 50 hours of unpaid community service, fined her $400 and disqualified her from driving for six months.

A traffic conviction was recorded but no criminal conviction was recorded.