Chittaway Point: Off duty police officer Ashleigh Juka Gavin pleads guilty to mid range drink driving

An off duty police officer has made her first appearance in court after being charged with mid range drink driving at Chittaway Point. See what happened the night she was behind the wheel.

An off duty police officer has pleaded guilty to mid range drink driving after crashing into a garbage bin and parked car in Chittaway Point.

Ashleigh Juka Gavin, of Chittaway Point, appeared before the Registrar at Wyong Local Court on Monday.

The 32-year-old senior constable, who is attached to a specialist command, represented herself when she entered a plea of guilty to the charge of drive with mid range prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA).

Gavin asked for the matter, which will go to sentence, to be adjourned for four weeks to allow her to complete the traffic offenders program and gather more character references.

An agreed set of facts tendered to the court stated that Gavin has no prior criminal history and worked full time.

Ashleigh Juka Gavin (middle), a senior constable, leaving court after pleading guilty to mid range drink driving.

At around 11.35 on August 3, Gavin was driving a Suzuki Sedan on Geoffrey Rd in Chittaway Point.

“The accused’s vehicle has impacted with a garbage bin and then collided with the rear of a stationary vehicle parked outside premises,” the facts stated.

“The force of the impact caused the airbags in the accused’s vehicle to activate and also extensive damage to the front of her vehicle.”

Neighbours came outside to help Gavin, including two off duty nurses, and an ambulance was called however Gavin declined medical assistance.

Residents of Geoffrey Rd helped Gavin after the crash.

Police officers from Tuggerah Lakes District attended the scene and interviewed Gavin who said she was heading home from a friend’s house before the crash.

The facts stated that Gavin admitted to “consuming about four alcoholic drinks throughout the night”.

“The accused was observed to be well affected by alcohol,” the facts read.

Gavin underwent a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

She was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where a second breath analysis revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.132.

Gavin, whose licence was suspended, will be sentenced on September 12.