Crystal Brown sentenced for drink driving after espresso martinis, beers in Kurnell

A southern Sydney sand mining worker has been described as a “good person” in court despite causing a major crash while three times over the legal limit after a night at the sports club.

Crystal Brown was sentenced for drink driving in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

A Kurnell sand mining worker has been described as a “good person” despite causing a major crash while three times over the legal limit, a court has heard.

The comments were made as Crystal Brown, 40, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to high-range drink driving.

Court documents state Brown blew a reading of 0.185 the night her Ford Ranger collided with two other cars along Captain Cook Drive on May 26.

The court heard Brown caused a “major traffic accident” when she crashed into a Toyota Camry, which forced the vehicle to mount a kerb and crash into a parked Toyota LandCruiser.

Brown then emerged from the wreckage “stumbling and struggling to stand on her feet,” according to court documents.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said he found remorseful. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Though no one was injured, she was arrested and taken back to Sutherland police station for breath analysis.

There, Brown told police she had drunk “four espresso martinis and two Great Northerns” at the Kurnell Recreation Club before getting behind the wheel.

In court on Thursday, Brown asked the magistrate to consider her need for a licence in handing down his judgement.

Representing herself, Brown said she was required to drive on-site at the Kurnell sand mines where she works as an administration assistant.

Since the crash she had bought a bike, the court heard, and cycled to work every day after her vehicle was written off.

Brown also told the magistrate she could not afford to buy another vehicle for the time being after paying upwards of $5000 in damages to the other car owners.

In handing down his decision, Magistrate Philip Stewart noted Brown’s good character reports, efforts to accept responsibility and remorse for her actions.

He recognised Brown had received difficult personal news on the night of the accident, which may have led her to find “solace in the bottle”.

“Good and bad people commit this kind of offence and you fall into the ‘good’ category,” Mr Stewart said.

“The people around you think you are a good person.”

Mr Stewart commended Brown for completing the Traffic Offenders Program and her otherwise clean record.

He ultimately sentenced her to a 12-month community correction order and disqualified her from driving for a year.

He also fined Brown $1200 and ordered her to complete 90 hours of community service.