Punchbowl teacher Sara Atteya caught speeding in Ramsgate Beach school zone

A teacher, make-up artist and fashion designer with an “appalling traffic record” will be off the road for six months after being busted speeding in a school zone.

Sara Atteya outside court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A teacher caught driving 20km/h above the speed limit in a school zone has failed in her bid to avoid her licence being disqualified.

Sara Farouk Atteya, 26, elected to take her speeding fine to Sutherland Local Court on Thursday to seek leniency.

The court heard Atteya, who lives in Monterey, was charged with driving more than 10km/h over the speed limit along Chuter Ave, Ramsgate Beach at 8.30am on February 8. She was detected travelling 62km/h in a 40km/h zone.

The court heard Atteya was on a good behaviour licence at the time after losing 14 demerit points.

Atteya’s lawyer Walid Sukari said his client, a full time teacher at a school in Punchbowl, “had a remarkable work ethic” and had also completed a fashion design course.

Sara Atteya was disqualified from driving for six months when she appeared in Sutherland Local Court after she was caught speeding in a school zone.

Mr Sukari said Atteya had taken on a mother-like role to her brother’s nieces who she dropped off and picked up at school.

The court heard Atteya also ran a successful online clothing business where she made and delivered the items and also worked as a make-up artist on weekends, where was “in demand” and “highly sought after”.

“She acknowledges she should have slowed down,” Mr Sukari said. “She is aware she could lose her licence for six months.

“She recognises the error of her ways and provided a letter of apology. She has vowed never to put herself in that position again.”

Mr Sukari said Atteya had no criminal record and had completed the traffic offender’s program.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said school zones were “there for a purpose” to stop drivers speeding to protect children “who have little road sense”.

He noted she had an “appalling traffic record” and knew the consequences of committing further offences while on a good behaviour licence.

Mr Stewart refused to extend leniency, noting she had chosen to take her fine to court. Mr Stewart convicted Atteya meaning she would be disqualified for six months and fined her $400.