Alison Trethowan: Glenroy drunk woman drives through Albury children’s park

A boozed-up mum, with empty wine bottles rolling about her car, has driven through a park where children played before being found slipping in and out of consciousness.

A Glenroy woman has been busted driving more than six times over the legal alcohol limit.

A mum-of-five caught driving more than six times over the legal alcohol limit in the middle of the day had driven through a park where children were playing.

Alison Maree Trethowan has faced Albury Local Court and pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving, negligent driving, and not give particulars to owner of damaged property.

Court documents show police responded to reports of a Mazda 2 being driven erratically on Squirrel Glider Driver, Thurgoona at 11.30am on November 15.

Witnesses reported the car was stopping in the middle of the road, with the driver getting out and knocking loudly on the doors and windows of nearby houses.

Another witness told police they had seen the car mounting the verge, swerving erratically, and driving through a park where kids were playing.

Trethowan’s former colleague identified the mum as the driver after having worked with her for some years.

Police later found the car parked at Charles Sturt University campus in Thurgoona, with Trethowan inside.

Court documents reveal police found Trethowan to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Paramedics assessed Trethowan and took her to Albury Base Hospital where a blood test returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.320.

When Trethowan was interviewed by police she told them she had two glasses of wine, despite the multiple empty bottles of wine in the back of her car.

A blood sample returned an alcohol reading of 0.267.

Trethowan’s defence solicitor Mark Cronin said his client, a mother of five, had developed a drinking problem due to violence she had suffered.

Mr Cronin said Trethowan was addressing her drinking problem, and was supported in court by a counsellor.

Magistrate Miranda Moody said Trethowan could have caused “a lot of pain and anguish” for members of the community.

“While I accept she has had a tragic past, that doesn’t help the person she kills on the road because she’s so drunk she can barely walk straight,” Ms Moody said.

“To be so drunk and in charge of a vehicle in the day, near a park where children were playing, could have had serious consequences.”

“She is an addict and addiction is a disease which is not her fault, but what is her fault is not doing anything about it, which she now is.”

Trethowan was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.

She was disqualified from driving for six months, backdated to December 15, with an interlock for 24 months, and fined $500.