Designer Jodhi Meares ‘haunted’ by marriage to James Packer, pleads guilty to high-range drink driving

FASHION designer and former wife of James Packer, Jodhi Meares has pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving at Waverley Court today.

FASHION designer and ex-wife of James Packer, Jodhi Meares, has been convicted of high range drink driving over a crash in which she rolled her Range Rover.

Ms Meares, 43, was fined $1100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Ms Meares sat nervously in court as her lawyer Chris Murphy entered a guilty plea on her behalf.

Jodhi Meares arriving at Waverley Court today. Picture: John Grainger

The former model had a blood alcohol content of 0.181, three times the legal driving limit, when she crashed into the parked cars on O’Sullivan Rd, Bellevue Hills, in June.

The court heard Ms Meares told police after the crash she had consumed five drinks before getting behind the wheel.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Murphy told the court Ms Meares had experienced extra-Curial punishment because of intense media interest that left her trapped in her house for 16 days after the crash before she fled to the US.

“She has been through a massive amount of stress, Mr Murphy said.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Murphy with Jodhi Meares entering Waverley Court today.

He said Ms Meares was so stressed about appearing in court she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication by her GP.

He also told the court she was “haunted” by her marriage to James Packer and he was trying to talk her out of leaving the country after the case.

He suggested her former marriage to Mr Packer had made her a media target.

“She was married for just over two years and that has affected everything that was said about her since,” he told the court.

Media executive James Packer with his then wife Jodhi Meares in 2001.

Ms Meares married billionaire James Packer in 1999 in a $10 million wedding ceremony. They divorced in 2002.

Mr Murphy tendered multiple documents including a character reference from the head of the Cambodian Childrens Trust. and statements from her mother and rocker fiance Jon Stevens

He also tendered a traffic report produced by an independent investigator which highlighted the poor state of O’Sullivan Rd where Ms Meares crashed.

The crash scene in O'Sullivan Rd, Bellevue Hill.

Mr Murphy argued that Ms Meares was under the assumption she could have one drink per hour, as a “rule of thumb” and suggested her 48kg frame had led her to become increasingly intoxicated after about five drinks.

“She did not have five drinks in five hours. She had about four and three quarter drinks in four and a half hours.”

But Magistrate Julie Huber told Ms Meares her reading was “well into the high range.”

“But having said that it is certainly not as high as unfortunately the courts see on a daily basis.”

The licence suspension was reduced from a possible three years to 12 months.

Media waiting for Ms Meares outside the court this morning. Picture: John Grainger

Ms Meares faced a sea of cameras to front the court this morning and looked startled by the large media pack awaiting her arrival at 10.45am. It was the first time she had appeared in person.

Wearing a black pant suit and white blouse, she was accompanied by Mr Murphy who reacted angrily to photographers as he tried to lead his client to the courthouse.

“Go away,” he told the press gathered outside Waverley Court.

One member of the public tried to snap a photo of Ms Meares on a smartphone inside the court house but Mr Murphy told the woman to delete it.

Ms Meares’ legal entourage ushered her into an interview room where she remained for three hours until the afternoon court session

She did not make a comment to the large media contingent awaiting her exit afterwards.