MasterChef Larissa Takchi pleads guilty to driving offences
MasterChef star Larissa Takchi has pleaded guilty to speeding near her family-owned cafe just three days before she was allowed to get behind the wheel again, having been on a suspended licence for other driving offences.
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The winner of MasterChef 2019 Larissa Takchi has pleaded guilty to speeding and driving without a licence five months after it was suspended for going over the speed limit in a separate incident.
The Dural 24-year-old was charged with driving 85km/h hour on the 60km/h Old Northern Rd, Dural, on April 10 when she was leaving her family’s business, the Wild Pear Cafe, at 4.20pm.
Police facts tendered to the court state Takchi’s licence was suspended in November after she was caught speeding more than 30km/h over the speed limit and for accumulating demerit points.
Takchi was shown leniency and the Roads and Maritime Service reduced a six-month suspension to three months, ending April 13.
But Takchi got behind the wheel three days before the expiration.
“The accused stated that she believed the suspension had ended on the April 7, 2020, and had put it in her calendar as such,” the police facts stated.
“While speaking with police the accused has opened the Services NSW application on her smart phone, which contains her digital drivers licence, and it clearly stated her licence was suspended.”
The rising culinary star – who claimed the top price on the reality TV show last year after flooring judges with her elaborate desserts – did not appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.
Takchi will be sentenced on July 29.