Sherrie Veale: Worrigee disability support worker charged for high range drink driving

A South Coast disability support worker who careened into a power pole while driving absolutely sauced to see a client has been slammed in court.

Disability support worker, Sherrie Veale, leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

A South Coast disability support worker who careened into a power pole while driving absolutely sauced to see a client has been slammed in court.

Sherrie Veale, 54, appeared in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to high range drink driving.

Agreed facts state emergency services were called to the scene at Millbank Rd, Nowra on May 25 and found the Worrigee-based woman’s “significantly damaged” car, which had halted traffic.

Responding officers at the scene conducted a breath test on Veale, which returned a positive result of .150 – three times the legal limit.

Sherrie Veale was sentenced in Nowra Local Court. Picture: John Appleyard

She was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station where she was charged.

In court Veale’s lawyer said the woman had dealt with a “particularly difficult” disabled person just hours before the crash.

Sherrie Veale blew .150. Picture: Tom McGann

She said Veale went home following the shift and began drinking wine, despite knowing she had an afternoon shift that same day.

“[Veale] drank too much wine and initially cancelled her shift, but felt guilty knowing how hard it would be to replace her, so she began driving,” her solicitor told the court.

The lawyer said Veale lacked a criminal record and the offending was out of character.

Magistrate Lisa Viney labelled the offending a “serious example” of drinking driving and said NDIS workers needed to be held to a higher standard given their important positions in the community.

“You would be no assistance to your clients if you killed yourself,” Ms Viney said.

Veale was convicted, fined $500 and sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order.

She was also disqualified from driving for six months and was ordered to install an interlock device for two years upon her licence return.

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