Janette Waterhouse admits drink driving after ejection from the Old Manly Boatshed nightclub

A former member of a famous Sydney racing dynasty and cancer nurse drove to a police station while drunk after being chucked out of a late-night northern beaches nightspot.

Janette Waterhouse exits Manly Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A former daughter-in-law of the late Sydney bookmaking legend Bill Waterhouse has escaped conviction after drink driving after a night out at Manly.

Eastern suburbs socialite Janette Waterhouse, who married into the racing family dynasty with her wedding to Bill’s son David, blew 0.09.

Waterhouse, 64, separated from her husband in 2017. She was breath-tested after driving to Manly Police Station to complain that security guards at the nightspot ejected her for being intoxicated in August.

Management of Old Manly Boatshed nightclub in The Corso called police whothen gave her official “move on directions” to leave the venue after Waterhouse’s friend allegedly assaulted a security guard.

At Manly Court on Wednesday, Waterhouse pleaded guilty to one count of mid-range drink driving.

Janette Waterhouse was thrown out of a Manly nightspot for being drunk. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Court documents contained an address for Waterhouse in Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay, the same address as the $70m mansion “Tresco”, jointly owned by Waterhouse and her former husband, David.

Waterhouse’s solicitor Brian Wrench told the court his client was now working as an oncology nurse and had no serious driving matters on her record.

She got her licence in 1978, Magistrate Lisa Stapleton was told.

Mr Wrench said in the time leading up to the offending, Waterhouse’s mother had died and she had been caring for a close friend who was seriously ill.

“It was just a four-minute drive,’’ he said.

“She’s an oncology nurse and has done a lot of good in the community.”

Janette and David Waterhouse in 2007. Picture: Richard Dobson

In an agreed set of facts tendered to the court, police stated Waterhouse and her friend entered the Boatshed at 10.47pm on August 2, but security guards asked them to leave shortly after for “showing signs of intoxication”.

They then complained they had paid a $20 entry fee and “should not have to leave”.

The court heard that Waterhouse’s friend allegedly assaulted one of the guards before police arrived at 11pm.

Both women were told not to enter The Corso for at least six hours but police saw Waterhouse get behind the wheel of a car parked close to Manly Wharf.

As officers approached the car, it drove off. They contacted Manly Police Station to alert it that a possible intoxicated driver was on their way.

The Old Manly Boatshed on The Corso Manly. Picture: Bradley Hunter

“Conveniently, (Waterhouse) drove directly to (the station) to make a complaint and a statement about what had taken place at the Boatshed,” the fact sheets state.

Waterhouse told officers she had driven to the station, the court heard.

She was then arrested, breath-tested and charged.

Magistrate Stapleton said that people who had “longstanding respectability in the community and those with an “exceptional character” could be granted leniency.

“(Waterhouse) falls into that category”.

Waterhouse was given a conditional release order, without conviction, to be of good behaviour for two years.