Belinda Michelle Robertson: Goulburn woman stopped car at intersection to assault partner

Police were alerted to an unusual case of domestic violence when a car stopped in the middle of an intersection while the two occupants got out to fight.

A P-plater who “shouldn’t have been driving” left her car stopped in the middle of an intersection to get out and assault her partner.

Belinda Michelle Robertson, 30, faced Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to common assault and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Goulburn woman was driving under the influence of alcohol with a passenger in the car at around 4.30pm on March 29 when she stopped the car at an intersection.

Robertson stopped in the middle of the intersection of Auburn St and Lithgow St in Goulburn and left the car in drive with the handbrake engaged while she and her partner yelled at each other inside the vehicle.

They both exited the car and Robertson’s partner took a carton of beer from the vehicle to a nearby taxi. According to court documents, Robertson grabbed his shirt and pulled and pushed him while he tried to shake her off.

Belinda Michelle Robertson was convicted for assault and negligent driving on June 1 2021.

He then tried to grab the carton of beer, which he had placed on the back seat of the taxi, but Robertson repeatedly slammed the car door on his arm. The taxi driver refused to take the victim anywhere, so he struggled with Robertson and then walked down the road.

Police called by witnesses arrived on the scene to find Robertson standing on the side of the road and reluctant to co-operate, even swearing at them. According to police, she was swaying on her feet, slurring her speech, had bloodshot eyes, and smelled of alcohol.

An ambulance was called when police saw Robertson had an open wound on her ankle and scratches on her arm and neck, but she refused to tell the officers what had happened. Police had to move her car from the intersection where it was blocking traffic with the keys that had apparently been found on the ground.

When she was arrested on April 1, Robertson told police she’d been driving with alcohol in her system, despite not being able to drink at all on her P-plates.

The police prosecutor said her status as a provisional driver exacerbated her offence of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Belinda Michelle Robertson said she needed her licence for her family and volunteering.

“She shouldn’t have been driving in the first place,” he said.

Her lawyer Sam Rowland argued Robertson had only driven for two minutes and covered a short distance of 200 metres.

“The vehicle stopped for a domestic violence incident occurring in the vehicle,” he said.

He told the court the fight had resulted in Robertson being assaulted by her partner.

The court heard Robertson is essential to several community organisations locally. A letter written by Robertson attested to volunteering 10 hours a week at the local school and expressed great remorse for her actions.

“When I drove my car after being at the funeral I was affected by alcohol and certainly wasn’t thinking of the consequences,” she said.

“I was completely out of line and I deeply regret my choices.”

Belinda Michelle Robertson left Goulburn Courthouse with her licence intact.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie agreed Robertson’s voluntary work and involvement in local associations indicated good character.

“You’re certainly someone who’s a valuable member in the community,” she told Robertson.

The magistrate acknowledged the letter detailing the stress it would put on Robertson’s family and those community contributions if she lost her licence, but noted she didn’t possess “an unblemished record”.

Magistrate Beattie told Robertson she put herself and her partner in a dangerous situation when she drove with alcohol in her system.

“You put him at risk as well as anyone else. There are other people around,” she said.

She sentenced Robertson to a Community Corrections Order for nine months and a Conditional Release Order for two years.