Kellyville: Unsworn NSW Police employee Belinda Galvin sentenced for high range drink driving

A magistrate issued a sobering message to a NSW Police admin assistant three times over the legal limit, telling her the night could have ended in tragedy.

The NSW Police employee was charged with high range drink driving at Castle Hill Police Station.

A 51-year-old woman who drove while drunk was reminded she could have killed someone and, as a NSW Police administration assistant, should have known better, a court has heard.

Belinda Galvin, a Rouse Hill mother-of-three, fought back tears at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday after Magistrate Arthur Aguirre delivered a sobering message to her when he told her the maximum sentence for her offence was 18 months in jail.

“You could have killed a family, people travelling on the road minding their own business,’’ he said.

“Every bus, every big sign I see around town tells you not to drink and drive, and you should know better particularly.’’

The court heard Galvin’s 18-year-old son was supposed to collect a family member from Kenthurst on the night of March 12 but was not feeling well so Galvin drove instead.

Belinda Galvin pleaded guilty to high range drink driving.

After two wines her lawyer Danny Eid said she believed she was fine but made a “terrible and horrible decision” to drive.

After she left her home, police detected Galvin swerving her SUV between lanes without indicating while negotiating a roundabout at Green Rd, Kellyville, about 9.30pm.

Police activated their sirens and arrested Galvin shortly after a roadside breath test recorded a reading of 0.166.

“The officers immediately detected the odour of alcohol emanating from the vehicle and observed that (Galvin) had red, bloodshot and watery eyes,’’ police facts tendered to the court state.

“When asked if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages, (she) admitted to having had two glasses of wine.’’

The court heard the commander of a specialist command which she has worked for three years thought highly of her professionally and personally.

A random breath test revealed Galvin was more than three times over the legal limit. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Aguirre accepted her remorse and allowed a 25 per cent discount off her sentence for the guilty plea she entered on April 3.

Mr Aguirre fined her $1200, disqualified her from driving for eight months but he said the worst part was that she would have to show her employer her conviction following her “very poor decision”.

“It’s a reminder there’s a real price to pay for behaving this way,’’ he said.

“The fact was she was well above the high range and she should never have been driving.

“Overall her manner of driving was not aggressive or dangerous in any obvious way but that’s not the issue … you could easily end up in tragedy, not only to yourself but to others.

“I send the message out not only to you but to the community.’’

He told the court that despite the offender’s criminal-free record, her traffic history did “not assist her”.

She must also use an interlock device for 24 months after she resumes driving.

Her employment status remains under review.