Police officer claims medication may have affected blood alcohol level

A serving NSW police constable has claimed her blood alcohol level was potentially impacted by breast cancer medication.

A Glenbrook based police officer has been sentenced for drink driving.

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A serving NSW Police senior constable has claimed her blood alcohol level was potentially impacted by her breast cancer medication.

Melynda Power faced Penrith Local Court today charged with a mid-range drink driving offence.

This is the second time Power has appeared before the court for drink driving, however was not convicted for a low-range charge in 2015.

The 57-year-old was charged on March 3 after she was stopped in Glenbrook for a random breath test and returned a positive reading of 0.067.

The court heard that Power had consumed four schooners between 1pm and 4pm and thought she would be fine to drive.

Her lawyer told the court Power is battling breast cancer and argued that it is possible her medication affected her blood alcohol reading.

“While there is no evidence of the effects of the medication and its effects on the body, we have been exploring the effects the medication could have had on the blood alcohol level of my client,” she said.

The court also heard that the loss of licence would have “significant” effects on Power’s ability to carry out her job, because she would be restricted to public transport.

Power was convicted and before handing down her sentence, Magistrate Miranda Moody said she had taken into account all matters relating to the case and also stated the embarrassment the defendant must be feeling.

“As a serving police member in the NSW Police department this charge no doubt brings her incredible embarrassment having broken the law she sets out to enforce,” Ms Moody said.

Power was sentenced with a three months licence suspension and fined $300.