Blue Bay: Baylee Donna Mashman done for high range drink-driving on way home from the pub

A young woman was “lucky” her “foolish” decision to drive home drunk from the pub did not kill anyone after she returned a reading more than three times the legal limit, a court has heard.

Baylee Donna Mashman, 26, of Blue Bay, has been convicted of high range drink-driving after she blew 0.175 on her way home from Bateau Bay Hotel on December 10, 2022. Picture: Facebook

A young woman was only about a kilometre from home when a rear number plate light, which was obscuring two letters, attracted the attention of police who pulled her over for a random breath test.

Baylee Donna Mashman, of Blue Bay, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to one count of high range drink-driving.

An agreed set of facts states police were patrolling Oakes Ave at Shelly Beach shortly after midnight on December 10 last year when they turned into Grandview St and noticed a black Kia with a rear number plate light obstructing two letters.

Police activated their lights and sirens and pulled the 26-year-old over.

Mashman was cooperative and polite with police but was arrested when she failed a roadside test and later recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.175 — more than three times the legal limit.

Mashman was stopped on Grandview St, Shelly Beach, about 1km from her Blue Bay home. (File image)

“When questioned by police regarding what she had been drinking, she informed police that she had consumed some six drinks from approximately 4pm with her last drink being at her home prior to police interaction,” the facts state.

“The accused stated that during the course of the day, she had not consumed any food.”

However her solicitor told the court she had actually been drinking with friends at the Bateau Bay Hotel and “made the foolish decision to drive”.

Mashman, 26, of Blue Bay, was convicted of high range drink-driving after she blew 0.175 on her way home from Bateau Bay Hotel on December 10, 2022. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Kirralee Perry said Mashman’s reflections from attending the Traffic Offender’s Program was “one of the best I have read”.

“You are one of the people who have taken all they can out of the program,” Magistrate Perry said.

However she said Mashman’s “exceptionally high” reading meant she was “incredibly lucky” not to kill a pedestrian, another driver “or yourself”.

“You are in all other aspects a functioning member of the community,” Magistrate Perry said.

She convicted Mashman but reduced the disqualification period to the minimum six months with a further 24 months on the interlock device and fined her $990.