Monica Mecham: Belrose drunk driver to appeal jail sentence

A northern beaches woman is just eight weeks into a 12 month jail term for nearly killing her neighbour after she got in her car while five times over the limit. But she’s now launched a bid for freedom.

Lorraine Gooden, with her husband Nick, after their neighbour Monica Mecham was jailed. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

• Snowboarding ‘Chewbacca’ assault trial vacated over COVID-19
• Raptor cops swoop on daylight shooting accused

A northern beaches woman sentenced to jail for nearly killing her neighbour when she jumped behind the wheel at five times the alcohol limit will make a bid for freedom next month.

Monica Louise Mecham has served just two months of a 12 month prison term for a sickening car crash last year, which left Lorraine Gooden with serious head injuries and memory loss.

Mecham, of Belrose, mounted the footpath negotiating a slight right-hand bend on Pringle Ave and mowed down Mrs Gooden while she went for her daily morning walk about 9.30am on May 9.

The disability and aged care worker told police she had downed two bottles of wine the night before and drank vodka on the morning of the crash.

She had a blood alcohol reading of 0.278 when she decided to drive her Mercedes hatchback to work, Manly Local Court heard in January.

The Gooden family outside Manly Court in January. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Magistrate Mark Richardson sentenced the 56-year-old to 12 months in jail, with a seven-month non-parole period, noting it was the second time she had been convicted of high-range drink-driving.

On Thursday her barrister Garry Jauncey told the District Court his client would apply to serve the remainder of her sentence in the community.

Mr Jauncey asked for a two-week adjournment to seek medical material to support the application, telling the court he would argue the sentence should be served by way of an Intensive Corrections Order.

Monica Mecham’s appeal will be heard at the District Court.

Mrs Gooden spent 10 days in Royal North Shore hospital for treatment to a fractured left wrist and facial lacerations. She had surgery on her left shoulder and was left with memory loss due to a traumatic brain injury.

Speaking outside court following Mecham’s sentence on January 22, the victim told the Manly Daily that she still required several medical appointments every week.

“My doctor said I was lucky to be alive,” she said.

The Gooden family put their house up for sale following the incident as it backs onto Mecham’s property.

Nick Gooden said his wife now feared going into their back garden because she might see Mecham.

The matter will return to court on April 18.