Celeste Tripodi: Psychologist six times over the limit in Bellevue Hill crash

She treats Sydney’s high-flyers, from corporate CEOs to some of the biggest executive teams, but the glamorous psychologist has found herself in trouble after blowing a shocking alcohol reading after crashing in the eastern suburbs.

Celeste Tripodi, 36, was charged with high range drink driving after blowing six times the limit after drinks at the movies in Bondi Junction.

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A practising psychologist from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who smashed her car while six times over the limit has walked out of court free to be back on the roads this week.

The Downing Centre Local Court heard Glamorous 36-year-old Celeste Tripodi was remorseful after she had been drinking as an “emotional response” when she got behind the wheel after a movie last November.

Court documents state Tripodi, who speaks to CEOs and executive teams as part of her senior consultant role, told officers she had a few drinks before seeing a movie in Bondi Junction and driving back to her Bellevue Hill home.

Tripodi, 36, was also fined $2000

Just metres from her property, however, she collided with a parked Volkswagen Golf and police were notified.

When they arrived on scene Tripodi blew a stunning blood alcohol reading of 0.298, six times the legal limit.

She pleaded guilty to high range drink driving – first offence – earlier this year.

The police facts sheet stated she was experiencing “personal trauma” when she started drinking and the court heard she herself is now seeing a psychologist.

The reading was blown after Tripodi crashed into a Golf. Picture: Supplied

“The alcohol was an emotional response to her emotional state of mind at the time and it appears to be totally out of character,” her lawyer Brian Wrench told the court.

“She’s taking dutiful active steps in that she has reduced her alcohol intake.

“I can’t really put it much higher, she’s truly remorseful at the time, she didn’t run away, she stayed with police and is deeply sorry.”

The NSW Police prosecutor only briefly mentioned the high level of alcohol in her system before her sentence was handed down.

There minor damage to the car after the crash in Bellevue Hill, the court was told.

Tripodi sat quietly as Magistrate Jennifer Price fined her $2000 and banned from driving for seven months.

The disqualification was backdated to the offence in November meaning she can this week get back behind the wheel.

“While driving you were involved in a collision which makes it more serious,” Magistrate Price said.

“You are significantly over the limit and it’s not just high range, just over six times what you should be driving with.

“Clearly you were in no state to drive on that occasion.”

Tripodi will also have to have an interlock device fitted on her car for the next 24 months and will be subject to a 12-month community corrections order.

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