‘Model citizen’ ‘sick to stomach’ she could have injured someone while near five times alcohol limit

A domestic violence support worker who has dedicated much of her adult life to helping others has taken “full responsibility” for her “extremely high” drink drive reading.

A 45-year-old domestic violence support worker, described as a “model citizen” and lauded by colleagues, has told a court she “felt sick to her stomach” when she realised the precariousness of her situation, after she drove while nearly five times the alcohol limit.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court today Marnie Louise Went lamented “the worst decision of her life” after she pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor.

Pulled over by police at around 11.30pm on January 7 for driving too slowly on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road, the Redland Bay woman would show “an extremely high reading” of 0.248 when tests were confirmed.

The court heard Went, a domestic violence support worker thought highly of by colleagues and a manager, decided to visit her father after a row with family.

The single mother of two was described by the defence as “an otherwise model citizen” who had three traffic fines to her name.

The court heard Went had dedicated her adult life to helping others and had recently suffered a series of personal losses which had led to severe depression.

The defence said the defendant had been drinking alone on the night of the offence and took “full responsibility for the severity of her situation”.

Numerous character references spoke of her good standing with colleagues and a manager.

Went had also completed the Queensland Traffic Offender’s Program (QTOP) and regularly sought counselling.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta warned the woman of the latent and creeping stress of her vocation.

Went was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

Went was followed at the bar table by a young man who had no emergent reason to drive while nearly three times the alcohol limit.

Brock James Barber, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of driving while over the middle but not over the high alcohol limit.

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The court heard the unemployed Ormiston man had “no valid reason” to be on the road when he was intercepted due to the untoward manner of his driving.

Barber was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.