Rebecca Lee Simpson sentenced at Yeppoon for two drink-driving offences

A pregnant Central Queensland woman was more than five times the legal blood alcohol limit when she drove up the Bruce Hwy before passing out.

Rebecca Lee Simpson was sentenced in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 4.

A Central Queensland woman busted drink-driving twice in the space of a fortnight with “concerning” readings of .252 and .229, was pregnant at the time, a court has heard.

Rebecca Lee Simpson, 26, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 4 to two counts of drink-driving and one count each of failing to ensure a passenger was wearing a seatbelt, and disqualified driving.

The court heard that Simpson’s first drink-driving offence happened on December 16 and her intercept came about after a concerned person contacted police.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said about 11.45am, Simpson was seen getting into her car near Rockhampton’s Parkhurst Tavern before she drove onto the Bruce Highway.

There was a passenger in the vehicle.

Mr O’Connor said about half an hour later, police found Simpson’s car on the side of the highway at Milman — the engine was still running and she was in the driver’s seat “slumped over and passed out” with the keys in the ignition.

“Police observed a one-litre bottle of Bundaberg rum on the passenger seat - (with) approximately one quarter of the alcohol left,” Mr O’Connor said.

The prosecutor said Simpson, who was pregnant at the time, was taken to Rockhampton Hospital by Queensland Ambulance Service and she subsequently returned a blood alcohol reading of .252.

The court heard the seatbelt charge related to Simpson’s passenger.

As a result of this first drink-driving offence, Simpson’s driver’s licence was suspended.

Rebecca Lee Simpson.

But that didn’t stop her getting behind the wheel drunk again — this time 13 days later on December 29.

Mr O’Connor said about 5pm, police again received reports about an intoxicated Simpson driving.

Police found her car on the side of the road at the Mary and John streets intersection, Yeppoon. Simpson was behind the wheel and the engine was running.

No-one else was in the car and police saw that Simpson was “heavily pregnant”, Mr O’Connor said.

Simpson subsequently returned a BAC of .229.

In relation to Simpson’s offending, Mr O’Connor said it was “hard to understate the seriousness” of it.

The court heard that Simpson had a previous high-range drink-driving conviction from Victoria in 2020 when she blew .175.

Solicitor Oscar Millroy said Simpson was a married mother of three who, since her offending, had engaged with Alcohol and Other Drugs Service (AODS).

Mr Millroy said Simpson grew up in a supportive household, however a traumatic incident she experienced resulted in her leaving school at the age of 13.

He said she then abused alcohol during her teen years and suffered mental health issues.

The court heard at the time of this offending, Simpson had again turned to alcohol while experiencing personal problems.

Mr Millroy said Simpson felt “great shame and regret” for her offending and she wanted to be a good mum for her children.

Prior to sentencing, Magistrate Grace Kahlert said this was “very concerning offending” that “could have killed” someone.

“You were clearly on a path of some self-destruction at the time,” Ms Kahlert said.

The magistrate said Simpson “clearly needed” ongoing support and supervision in the community.

Ms Kahlert placed Simpson on two years’ probation with conditions, and disqualified her from driving for four years.

Traffic convictions were recorded.