Leah Pinkus: Ex-public servant drove her car after two bottles of red wine

A former public servant who got behind the wheel after downing multiple bottles of red wine on an empty stomach has copped a lashing from a magistrate. See how she alerted police.

Leah Pinkus leaves Penrith local court

A former public servant who drove after downing two bottles of red wine before leading police on a pursuit after spotting the RBT van has learnt her fate in court.

Leah Pinkus, 44, of Woodford appeared in Penrith Local Court where she pleaded guilty to high range drink driving and failing to comply with police signal.

According to police facts, on the evening of September 10, Pinkus was driving on the Great Western Hwy, where police were conducting high visibility random breath tests.

After police signalled for her to pullover and drive into the testing zone, Pinkus ignored the directions, prompting a police pursuit with lights and sirens activated.

When police approached Pinkus’ vehicle they observed an intoxicating smell of liquor coming from the vehicle with Pinkus in the driver seat, glassy eyed and slurring her words.

Leah Pinkus leaves Penrith Local Court

They also noted red wine stains on her lips and front teeth.

When police asked if she had been drinking Pinkus replied she had drunk two bottles of wine prior to getting behind the wheel.

A breath test then returned a positive result and Pinkus could not say when she had started drinking or when she had her last drink, only telling police she had not eaten.

She was then placed under arrest and conveyed to Springwood police station where a breath analysis revealed a reading of 0.245.

The court heard Pinkus was previously a finance worker in the public sector and was hoping to get her career back on track.

Pinkus’ lawyer said his client was concerned about her future career prospects if convicted, to which Magistrate Fiona Toose replied, “She will be convicted, she’s lucky she’s not going to jail, and with that amount of alcohol in her system she’s lucky she’s not dead.

“The only reason you are not going to jail is because there was no accident and it’s your first offence.”

Ms Toose continued, “You had a large amount of alcohol you got into a car and you drove, when police pulled you over you decided to take off.”

“You can’t do that you put yourself at risk and you put the community at risk.”

The court heard Pinkus had been undergoing treatment for her alcohol issues including counselling had family support in the form of her son and parents with who she lives with.

Ms Toose took into account Pinkus’ guilty plea, as well as her honesty with the police, however ruled a conviction was necessary.

Pinkus was convicted, fined $1000 and sentenced to a twelve month community corrections order, during which she is to have an interlock device on her car, is not to drink alcohol and is to continue with relevant treatment.

She was also disqualified from driving for six months.