Niomie Ann Madden faces Grafton court pleading guilty to high range drink driving

A magistrate issued a fiery warning to a Grafton drink driver who ignored advice not to drive home after reporting an incident to police.

Niomie Ann Madden faces Grafton court pleading guilty to high range drink driving

A magistrate has issued gave a fiery warning to a Grafton drink driver who ignored advice not to drive home after reporting an incident to police.

Niomie Ann Madden, 40, pleaded guilty to high range drink driving when she faced Grafton Local Court.

Madden attended Grafton Police Station with another person to visit her husband, who had been detained due to an alleged incident, on December 3 last year, court documents state.

Police advised the nurse to catch a taxi home, suspecting she was drunk, but Madden made the costly error of ignoring their advice.

Patrolling police were soon advised she left toward Victoria St in her four-wheel drive, with facts stating officers were worried about the welfare of Madden and a passenger.

Madden was pulled over shortly before midnight and told police: “I knew this would happen”.

She blew a high range reading of 0.172 – more than three times the legal alcohol limit for driving.

Niomie Ann Madden (left) outside Grafton Local Court.

Defence lawyer Joe Fahey said the hardworking nurse acknowledged the risk to the community.

Madden was described as well-regarded in the community and Magistrate Roger Prowse spoke highly of her career.

“It’s a commendable job in an area that needs good, hard workers. You’re no doubt aware of a litany of disasters from drink driving,” Mr Prowse said on February 7.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kryj said Madden driving drunk with a passenger on-board was an aggravating factor.

When police pulled Madden over, she told officers: “I knew this would happen.”

Mr Prowse considered the potentially fatal risks Madden took by choosing to drink drive.

“You’re lucky you’re not on audiovisual link,” he said.

“Because if you were – it would mean you would be at District Court, because you’d killed your (passenger) and were in jail.

“We can‘t have drunk drivers in the community filling themselves with alcohol and getting on the road.”

Mr Prowse told Madden she should have considered the advice from police, who “acted generously” at the time.

Madden was convicted, fined $1500 and suspended from driving for nine months.