MasterChef’s Larissa Takchi faces sentencing for Dural driving offences

Former MasterChef winner Larissa Takchi has faced court for sentencing after she was nabbed for speeding and driving with a suspended licence.

Larissa Takchi (right) with a supporter outside Parramatta Local Court. Picture: Monique Harmer

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MasterChef winner Larissa Takchi has fronted court for sentencing after she was charged with speeding after leaving her family’s cafe at Dural.

The winner of the 2019 series 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.

Police charged the Dural 24-year-old for 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.

Larissa Takchi (right) arrives at Parramatta Local Court before her sentencing. Picture: Monique Harmer

Larissa Takchi after wining MasterChef in 2019. Picture: Channel 10

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.

Larissa Takchi with her aunt Lorraine Solomon at Wild Pear Cafe in Dural after she won MasterChef. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“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.

At Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Rodney Brender did not record a conviction and imposed a 12-month conditional release order on her.

Takchi appeared upbeat as she entered the court with a supporter.