Gabrielle Jacks: St Kilda woman in court after smashing into three cars while drunk at Aspendale
A St Kilda woman has told of her regret after slamming into three cars during a booze-fuelled drive at Aspendale.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A drunk driver who slammed into three cars at Aspendale has told a court the daring ride was the biggest mistake of her life.
Gabrielle Jacks, 32 pleaded guilty at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after she was caught more than four times over the limit while behind the wheel on July 17 last year.
The court heard the St Kilda woman had been drinking with a colleague at Aspendale and told them she was getting an Uber when she left about 11.30pm.
But Jacks instead got into her car, crossing onto the wrong side of the road and side swiping an oncoming car on Station St.
Despite her victim blacking out, Jacks continued driving to Attenborough Rd where she slammed into two parked cars.
She again failed to stop, moving toward Pine Cres before pushing the brakes as concerned neighbours approached her car.
Bystanders took Jacks’ keys and waited for police who arrived about 11.40pm.
Jacks was unable to communicate and her “eyes were rolling around”, the prosecution said.
She returned a blood alcohol reading of more than four times the limit at Moorabbin police station.
The Station St victim regained consciousness and did not report any other injuries.
Jacks’ lawyer told the court his client could not remember the accidents and only realised the severity of the situation when she woke up in the car with police.
He said Jacks was seeking help to address her poor mental health.
The court also heard Jacks had started paying off $16,000 worth of damage inflicted on the three cars.
“It was the worst decision I’ve made in my life, I think about it all the time … if I could take it back I would,” Jacks told the court.
Magistrate Victoria Campbell said it was “lucky” the incident hadn’t led Jacks to face the Supreme Court.
“It’s a decision that will remain with you for a long time … it’s such a high reading and it’s so serious,” she told Jacks.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s one drink or five … just don’t drive when you’ve had a drink.”
Jacks pleaded guilty to drink driving, careless driving and fail to give name and address to an injured person.
She was fined $1500 and her licence was disqualified for 23 months backdated to July 17.
No conviction was recorded.
