Chelsea Lee Bralee drove with cocaine on M1, Ourimbah
A P-plater who snorted cocaine on a night out still had the drug in her system when cops stopped her on a major NSW highway the next day. Find out her punishment.
Central Coast
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A magistrate has warned nursing student Chelsea Lee Bralee not to treat her depression with illegal drugs after the 21 year old was busted driving down the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah with cocaine she took at a hotel the previous night.
Bralee fronted Parramatta Local Court for sentencing on Wednesday after she confessed to police that she consumed the drug through her nostrils at a Newcastle hotel about 9pm.
The P-plater made the admission after cops stopped her while she was travelling 100km/h on the M1 for a random breath test on January 5 about 8.20am.
When cops asked the former finance industry worker how frequently she used the drug she said “a few times a year maybe”.
She was charged with drive motor vehicle with illicit drug present in oral fluid and pleaded guilty to the offence, adding to multiple driving offences.
The court heard how she experienced a “difficult year” after Covid in 2021.
“Don’t turn to illegal drugs to deal with depression,’’ Magistrate Peter Feather said.
“Your traffic record is a concern,’’ he added, while telling her that 170 people had died on NSW roads this year.
Bralee was not convicted for driving while suspended at Chester St, Merrylands, on October 21 after the court heard she was oblivious to the order after an attempt to update her address failed. She was given a 12-month good behaviour bond for that offence.
The court heard the unemployed woman is studying a diploma in nursing and worked in the finance industry for three years after completing a mortgage lending course.
She completed the traffic offenders’ program.
She was convicted, fined $400 and banned from driving for three months.
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