Sienna Staunton on high range drink driving charge at Tweed Heads court

The 24-year-old’s eyes were bloodshot and she was slurring her words when she was pulled over. But the court took her previously good record into account.

A Tweed Heads bartender who had two passengers in her car needed to be supported by a police officer when she was pulled over for a roadside random breath test, court documents reveal.

Sienna Staunton, 24, pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving at Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday (August 29).

The Tweed Heads woman had “bloodshot eyes” and was “slightly slurring” her words when she was arrested after testing positive to a random roadside breath test, according to police facts.

The accused blew 0.163 at Tweed Heads Police Station during a breath analysis, which magistrate Geoff Dunlevy said was “quite concerning” for public safety.

Staunton needed a police officer to help her stay on her feet as she got out of her car at 2.30am on Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads, in July, police facts stated, and officers were of the opinion she was “moderately affected” by alcohol.

Sienna Staunton, 24, appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court on a high-range drink driving charge on Monday, August 29.

She told police she drank two rum-based beverages and a shot of liquor between 7pm and 10pm, and had a further two drinks two hours before being arrested at 2.30am.

Staunton’s lawyer said she was driving because one of her friends had been injured earlier in the night.

Mr Dunlevy gave Staunton credit for her guilty plea, and said this “one off, unfortunate event” would be unlikely to be repeated as this was her first offence and she had completed the traffic offenders program.

Staunton was convicted of drive with high range PCA and fined $900 fine, which was reduced by 25 per cent. Her licence was disqualified for the minimum period of 12 months and she must hold an interlock driver’s licence.