Lauren Morley: Shoalhaven woman sentenced for mid range drink driving

An “ashamed” mother has been busted driving after downing five glasses of wine and drinks at the pub following an emotional clash with her ex.

Lauren Morley leaving Nowra Local Court after she was convicted for the drink driving.

An “ashamed” mother has been busted driving after downing five glasses of wine and drinks at the pub following an emotional clash with her ex.

The “poor decision to drive” saw Lauren Morley wind up in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving.

The court heard the ordeal began when the 27-year-old Erowal Bay woman travelled to her ex’s Nowra home on August 20 with intentions of “rekindling” the relationship.

However, when the attempt turned “heated”, Morley left the home and on her travels back to her house, stopped to pick up a bottle of white wine, according to police documents tendered to the court.

The documents state Morley drank five glasses of the wine, before her cousin called and asked her to come to the Huskisson Pub. Morley drove to the venue where she consumed more alcohol.

Lauren Morley drank five glasses of wine before getting behind the wheel and heading to the pub.

At 12.50am Morley got behind the wheel to travel home and on her journey mounted the kerb on Elizabeth Dr, Vincentia.

Agreed facts reveal police officers were patrolling the street at the time and after passing her, watched as Morley drove back onto the road before shining her high beams through the police car.

Officers pulled over Morley, where they immediately saw her to be quite intoxicated.

“During questioning, [Morley] made admissions into drinking alcohol. Police saw [Morley] to have watery eyes and could smell alcohol on her breath,” agreed facts state.

A breath test reading was conducted and returned a positive result of .105, resulting in Morley being arrested and having her licence suspended.

In court on Tuesday, Morley’s lawyer said his client was “ashamed” of her actions.

“While this is a serious offence, it is her first offence of this nature,” he said.

“She has done the traffic offenders program and she knows how catastrophic her actions could have been.”

Magistrate Lisa Viney said Morley was lucky she didn’t hurt anyone when she made the decision to drive.

“I can see you’ve acknowledged how dangerous this was but this is not a small reading,” she said. “Not having a licence will be an inconvenience to you, especially when you need to take your kids to school, but it will be a reminder of the consequences your actions bring.”

Morley was convicted, fined $750, had her licence disqualified for three months and will need to install an interlock device into her vehicle when her licence returns.