Sylvia D’Souza: Seven Network TV producer charged with drink driving

A court has heard a Seven Network executive producer could not find a taxi to take her home after work drinks – until she ploughed into the back of one while drink driving at more than twice the legal limit.

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A Seven Network executive producer has paid a high price for drink driving at more than twice the legal limit and smashing into the back of a stationary taxi when it stopped to let out passengers in Sydney’s south.

Sylvia D’Souza, 42, left work drinks at a Surry Hills pub in her car when her phone was flat and she was unable to book an Uber or find a taxi on July 3.

D’Souza instead found a taxi minutes later when she ploughed into the back of one on the Princes Hwy in Rockdale as the driver stopped to let out a mother and her young child.

When police attended the scene, D’Souza returned a positive breath test – and a subsequent breath analysis returned a mid-range result of 0.134.

At Sutherland Local Court, barrister Allan Goldsworthy said D’Souza was on the hook for more than $40,000 after the taxi was badly damaged and her insurance was rendered void by her drink driving.

“It’s a simple rear end collision, it could happen when you’re sober,” Mr Goldworthy told the court.

“The financial penalty she has suffered is disproportionate to any financial penalty the court could impose.”

Seven Network executive producer Sylvia D'Souza.

D’Souza pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and Magistrate Michael Connell convicted her, fined her $1200 and disqualified her licence for three months.

“Drinking and driving does cause death and injury on our roads,” Mr Connell said.

“It’s clear she accepts responsibility for her actions and she is a person of otherwise good character.”

The court heard the taxi driver may attempt to sue D’Souza for lost wages due to the time required for the vehicle’s repairs.

D’Souza was recently promoted by the Seven Network to the role of executive producer after an illustrious career as a producer on well-known shows including Bride and Prejudice, Zumbo Just Desserts, The Mentor and the second season of Survivor in 2017.

Police facts revealed she had consumed three or four glasses of white wine at The Clock in Surry Hills before getting in the car.

“Police observed a strong smell of intoxicating liquor on her breath, and she was swaying and slurring her speech,” police facts stated.

“The accused stated that her first drink was at 4.30pm at The Clock in Surry Hills and her last drink was at 8.30pm.”