Repeat driving offender Chantelle Ayling fined, disqualified over NYE incident at Florey, Evatt, McKellar

A young mother charged with drink driving on New Year’s Eve was disqualified at the time for getting behind the wheel while on drugs.

Young mum Chantelle Ayling, who blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.143 after being caught running a red light and driving in Canberra while disqualified on New Year’s Eve, has been banned and fined for getting behind the wheel.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to level three drink driving, driving through a red light and driving while disqualified when she fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

At the time of her offending she was disqualified from driving because of an August 2017 drug driving conviction.

Police facts tendered to the court state police officers first detected Ayling driving a bronze Holden Commodore over the posted 80km speed limit at 1.50am travelling east on Ginninderra Drive, Florey.

Police then witnessed the car again at the corner of William Webb Drive and Moynihan St, Evatt, where Ayling went through a red light without attempting to stop.

The car then turned into Rohan Rivett Cres, McKellar, where police activated their sirens.

Ayling stopped and parked the car shortly after and left the vehicle.

She told police she did not have any identification because she had been disqualified from driving, and police saw a female passenger, was in the passenger seat.

Ayling was taken to Belconnen police station where she blew a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.14 which is in the level three range.

Chantelle Ayling leaves ACT Law Courts

Ayling’s lawyer told the court she chose to drive after her mother became intoxicated and belligerent while celebrating New Year’s Eve.

She said her client’s mother suffered from serious chronic illnesses including pancreatitis, emphysema, and a heart problem and was concerned for her welfare.

Ayling was described as a young woman who had made important steps to turn her life around despite being dealt a difficult hand.

The court heard her home life growing up was disruptive and she began to drink at age 11 and do drugs at age 12.

At only 17 Ayling gave birth to her daughter, of whom she is the sole guardian, and her lawyer said becoming a mother was an impetus for her to get clean from hard drugs.

The court heard she completed two TAFE courses, including a construction industry course, and was working towards gaining an apprenticeship.

Her lawyer said while Ayling had previously made arrangements for study and casual shifts in the construction industry to work around her existing disqualification, she would likely be required to have a licence to get a job in her industry.

Magistrate James Lawton banned Ayling for driving for six months, which is the minimum disqualification period for her crimes.

She was also fined $500 and was given a 12-month good behaviour order.