Leaha Taylor Mozejko convicted after drink-driving at Northmead
The lawyer of a drunk driver — who ploughed her luxury car into a brick wall while three times the legal limit — sought a fine for her client but the magistrate had other ideas.
Police & Courts
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The lawyer of drink-driver Leaha Taylor Mozejko requested a magistrate punish her with a fine after she ploughed into a brick garden wall at Northmead in August.
But Magistrate Stephen Barlow told Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday that the matter was too serious before sentencing her to a 12-month community correction order.
“For years and years the courts have tried to grapple with this problem in society of drink-driving,’’ Mr Barlow said.
“It was really bad in the ‘70s.
“If people come to court and get leniency … and no sanctions there’s no disincentive for people to drink-drive.’’
Mozejko, of Northmead, was caught driving with high range PCA after going straight on Beamish Rd instead of turning a bend.
The 26 year old lost control of her Mercedes A200 sedan, and struck the garden wall and main water pipe system, damaging both, on Friday, August 26 at 11.46pm.
She undertook a breath test after the collision and recorded a reading of 0.164 after the incident in the residential street.
The court heard she had consumed four pints of micro brewed beer at the Riverside Brewing Company at North Parramatta between 4.30pm and 10.30pm when she “only consumed nuts’’ while drinking.
The offending caused Mozejko to lose her job.
Mr Barlow told the court he accepted Mozejko was remorseful and her friend gave her a strong character reference.
He said she was “a good person” but drink-driving often led to catastrophic incidents.
“That’s why when you drink you just cannot drive,’’ he said.
Mr Barlow said one in six offenders were jailed for drink-driving.
Along with her community correction order, Mozejko was disqualified from driving for six months and must use an interlock driver's licence for 24 months.
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