Williamtown: Ali Mcguire escapes jail for driving nearly seven times over limit

Police pulled over a black Audi in Williamtown after it was seen swerving and driving erratically, only to find a Port Stephens woman “extremely” drunk behind the wheel.

A Hunter magistrate has warned a woman her actions of getting behind the wheel “extremely” drunk — nearly seven times over the limit — could have been “catastrophic” if she hadn’t been stopped by police.

Ali Mcguire, 32, was pulled over at around 8.30pm on July 24 on Nelson Bay Rd, Williamtown after a number of complaints from other drivers that a black Audi was driving erratically, swerving in its lane before it lost control and mounted a gutter.

Ali Mcguire was “extremely” drunk behind the wheel on July 24 at Williamtown. Picture: Amy Ziniak

The court heard Mcguire spoke to police and was extremely unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech and fell to the ground on one occasion.

She was breath tested, and the reading recorded was 0.337, close to seven times over the legal limit.

Mcguire’s license was immediately suspended and she was charged with high-range drink-driving, before pleading guilty to the offence last month.

Mcguire was sentenced for High Range drink driving, leaving Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday. Picture: Amy Ziniak

“With that amount of alcohol you are danger to yourself and others,” Magistrate Ian Cheetham said on sentencing the smartly dressed 32-year-old at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday.

Her solicitor told the court the real estate clerk from Fingal Bay had suffered the recent breakdown of her marriage, which caused her a “great deal of angst”, and she had been severely affected by Covid as a small accommodation business owner.

He said Mcguire didn’t dispute the facts, but didn’t remember a lot about the offence that night.

The court heard a week following, she had arranged rehabilitation at a Gunnedah facility where she spent two and a half months and was “genuinely remorseful” about her actions on the day.

“Your problem madame is your alcohol, and it needs to be your attention for the rest of your life,” Magistrate Cheetham said.

“I am satisfied you have done well enough to recognise your problem and you are a low risk of reoffending.”

Mcguire was sentenced to a 14 month intensive corrections order (ICO), 150 hours of community service and was ordered to participate in any rehabilitation by community corrections.

She was also disqualified from driving for a period of nine months.