Former real estate worker Helen Andrews sentenced for drunken cop assault

A former real estate worker erratically drove her black Audi while drunk before she was arrested and kicked a police officer in the chest and throat multiple times during a chaotic incident.

Former real estate worker Helen Andrews has been sentenced for refusing to do a breath test, and assaulting and resisting officers after she drove while drink. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A former real estate worker has drunkenly kicked a police officer in the throat and chest multiple times when she was put into a caged vehicle after driving erratically.

Helen Page Andrews, 32, was caught driving while more than four times the legal limit on the night of the incident.

The Potts Hill mother of two was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court this week after a failed attempt to have charges of assaulting and resisting police officers and refusing to submit to a breath analysis dealt with on mental health grounds.

Agreed facts tendered to the court stated Andrews was driving her black Audi in Kogarah on July 24 this year about 10.15pm when she turned in front of an unsuspecting driver, causing them to swerve.

Nearby police followed Andrews while she accelerated about 20km/h over the speed limit and drove erratically before she was pulled over.

Former real estate worker Helen Andrews with her lawyer was unsuccessful in having her charges dealt with under Mental Health Act at Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Andrews told officers she had two glasses of wine around 6.30pm before she did a roadside breath test, which returned a positive reading of 0.205.

Andrews was arrested, and officers saw she was “well intoxicated”. She refused to enter the caged vehicle, argued with officers and began resisting, which resulted in a wrestle.

Andrews pushed police away with her hands and legs, causing officers to handcuff her.

She prevented them from closing the door and kicked one officer in the throat and chest multiple times.

Andrews refused to participate in a breath analysis at Kogarah Police Station and was taken to St George Hospital due to her behaviour.

Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson accepted Andrews had mental health conditions and was using alcohol to self-medicate but noted the actions were too serious to record a non-conviction.

Andrews’ lawyer Anthony Gould said his client was so remorseful she called the police station the next day to pass on her apologies to the officers involved.

Mr Gould said Andrews wanted to get back into real estate and “get her life together”.

Details of Helen Andrews’ assault on police and drunk driving were revealed in Sutherland Shire Court.

He said Andrews had two young children and relied on her licence to care for them, and suffered from increased anxiety about catching the bus with her children.

“She realises how valuable her licence is,” Mr Gould said. “She is a single mum doing it tough.”

The court heard Andrews relied on community support through government benefits.

Ms Atkison noted Andrews’ actions put the public in danger after she drank two bottles of wine that night.

She said she had to “send a message” to Andrews and other people that drink driving was unacceptable and police deserved to be safe at work.

“I accept you had incredible stresses in your life in recent months. Your drinking behaviour is serious,” she said.

“When police breath tested you, it was high, and you were substantially affected by alcohol.”

Ms Atkison noted it was optimistic Andrews was engaging in mental health treatment but was concerned because she had previously been fined for refusing to undergo a breath analysis.

Andrews was convicted and sentenced to a community correction order for 12 months, during which she must be of good behaviour and engage with her psychologist.

She was disqualified for six months dating back to the incident and then will have an interlock device fitted to her car for 24 months.