Debra Raby: Biggera Waters woman guilty of crashing while five and a half times legal alcohol limit

A Gold Coast woman who crashed during peak hour traffic while more than five and a half times the legal limit had no idea where she had come from or how much she’d drunk, a court has heard.

Biggera Waters woman Debra Ann Raby, 66. Picture: Alex Treacy

A Gold Coast grandmother who crashed into a light pole during peak hour afternoon traffic while driving more than five times the legal blood-alcohol limit has sworn off booze, a court has heard.

Biggera Waters woman Debra Ann Raby, 66, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to two charges, high-range drink driving and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Both offences occurred at Harbour Town Dr, Biggera Waters, at about 4.40pm on December 16 last year.

Police were dispatched to reports a “very intoxicated” woman had crashed into a light pole, the court heard.

Raby was unable to tell officers where she had been drinking, how much she had drunk, or where she had come from, and officers noted her to be slurring her words, unsteady on her feet, and reeking of alcohol.

A subsequent blood analysis at the Gold Coast University Hospital revealed she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.28 per cent – more than five and a half times the legal driving limit.

Raby’s defence lawyer told the court his client, who emigrated from England alongside her ex-husband and was currently a volunteer with the Salvation Army, had no criminal history and a minor traffic history, this being her first offence of drink driving.

He said his client was undergoing a period of personal stress around the time of the offending, having lost her job and her rental property.

She was living in a caravan and had been drinking with her neighbours immediately prior to the offending, he said.

Raby had sworn off alcohol, the court was told.

Magistrate Lisa O’Neill said Raby didn’t need to be told how foolish her actions were.

“It’s quite extraordinary you were able to get into the car and start it,” she said.

Raby was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.