Kathryn Michelle Baker, 42: Newport woman 5 times over limit on vodka before crash

A northern beaches woman, who had her first vodka at 8.15am, ended up five times over the limit and involved in a traffic light crash at 11am, a court has heard.

Kathryn Michelle Baker, 42, of Newport, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday where she was convicted of high range drink driving after blowing five times over the limit. Picture: Manly Daily

A woman who was five times over the limit when she crashed into cars stopped at traffic lights, after drinking a bottle of vodka, has been sentenced in Manly Local Court.

Kathryn Michelle Baker, 42, of Newport, started drinking at 8.15am on August 19 before deciding to get behind the wheel and drive to the McDonald’s fast food restaurant at Warriewood for breakfast.

Baker parked in Vuko Pl, next to the Macca’s, at 11am to eat her food and finish off her 375ml bottle of Orloff vodka before driving north towards Newport.

In a facts sheet tendered to court, police stated that the mother of two drove onto Pittwater Rd before, moments later, she collided with the rear of a Ford Falcon XR6 stopped at a red traffic light at the intersection of Coronation St at Mona Vale.

The Falcon was shunted forward into the rear of a Subaru Outback, also stopped at the lights.

Kathryn Michelle Baker, 42, of Newport, outside Manly Local Court. Picture: Manly Daily

Police estimated that Baker’s car was doing 40 km/h at the time of impact.

No people were injured.

The court heard that Baker told police just after the crash that she had just “come from the dentist”.

In the facts sheet police stated that soon after she made admissions and told officers, “I’m over”.

Baker was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for a check up and blood tests.

She recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.273 — five times the legal limit.

Baker pleaded guilty to one count of high range drink driving (second offence).

“I wasn’t paying attention,” she told police. She also admitted to drinking vodka, according to the facts sheet.

Kathryn Michelle Baker, 42, was five times over the limit on August 19. Picture: Manly Daily

“I saw the other car stopped at the lights … but it was too late.”

The court was told that Baker had mental health issues associated with her use of alcohol.

Magistrate Robyn Denes told Baker that the case had “all the hallmarks of someone going to jail”.

Ms Denes said it was wasn’t the first time Baker had been caught drink driving. She was also convicted of a high range offence in 2018.

The magistrate said that the outcome of her decision to drive could have been “horrendous”.

Ms Denes said she would take into account Baker’s efforts at alcohol rehabilitation in her decision not to send her to jail.

Baker was convicted and placed on an Intensive Corrections Order to be of good behaviour for 18 months. She was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.