Drink-drive granny blew double the limit after losing pokies cash
A 64-year-old woman has been nabbed drink-driving in Somerville while making her way home after an evening at the pub playing the pokies, where she’d gone to relieve stress.
Leader
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leader . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A drink-driving grandmother has blown double the legal limit after downing too many wines while losing on the pokies.
Mary Nicholls not only lost her cash on the gaming machines, she also lost a lot more as she now has to pay $50 a day for Ubers and taxis to take her to work while she serves her loss of licence.
The 64-year-old disability support worker had gone to the pub to play pokies because she was stressed due to her son’s relationship breakdown, but drank too much before getting behind the wheel of her car to drive home.
She pleaded guilty to one charge of drink-driving at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.
The court heard about 9pm on September 11 last year Nicholls’ car was seen by police in Edmands St, Somerville and pulled over for a routine check.
Nicholls smelt of alcohol, and when breath-tested she blew .10.
Her car was impounded for 30 days and she lost her licence on the spot.
She told officers she hadn’t planned to drive home and had intended to call her son to pick her up, but then decided she didn’t want to impose on him.
In court her defence lawyer said his client had never been in trouble before and had an exemplary 25-year plus career serving the community in the disability sector.
He said her 45-year-old son was going through a tough time and she had gone to the pokies to “get away from it all”, but unfortunately had a couple too many drinks.
He said the grandmother of two was extremely remorseful for her “reckless and dangerous” decision to drive and her behaviour was completely out of character.
He said she had paid a heavy financial penalty already as she had to get taxis and Ubers to and from work, costing around $50 each day.
Magistrate Julian Ayres said Nicholls had an exceptionally good driving record for upwards of 40 years, but her twice-the-legal alcohol limit reading was concerning.
“Thankfully no-one was injured, including yourself,” Mr Ayres said.
“Hopefully it is a one-off, hopefully you won’t reoffend.
“I accept your excellent character, that there were no aggravating features, and that you are remorseful.”
MORE COURT NEWS
DRINK DRIVERS: FOOTBALLERS, FILMMAKERS, LAWYERS, ESTATE AGENTS
KEEP WALKING: THIEF'S JACK DANIELS’ BOTTLE SHOP SPREE
GUN DEAL: JUNKIE SWAPPED RIFLES FOR ICE AND CASH
Nicholls was disqualified from driving for 10 months, backdated to September last year, and fined $500.
He said there was no need for him to impose a safe driving course as she was “not a hoon”.
No conviction was recorded.