Mum facing jail after crashing car while almost six times over limit
A SPEECH pathologist crashed her car while she was almost six times over the legal drink drive limit after picking up her one-year-old son from childcare.
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A SPEECH pathologist crashed her car while she was almost six times over the legal drink drive limit after picking up her one-year-old son from childcare.
Renee Codd, 33, had spent the afternoon drinking at her home in Sunbury before driving to the childcare centre to pick her baby up on March 21.
Codd lost control at a roundabout in Gap Rd around 5.40pm when she picked up her phone.
The car careered off the road and came to rest in a drainage ditch.
Witnesses told police Codd had been driving erratically leading up to the crash.
Luckily, nobody was injured when the car came off the road.
Codd, who was supported by her mother when she appeared at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, was sentenced to 45 days in prison but immediately appealed and was bailed.
She pleaded guilty to drink driving and using a phone while driving.
Her alcohol reading was 0.294.
It was the third time she had been caught drink driving by the police.
After the crash she told her family she was an alcoholic.
The court heard Codd had spent 28 days in alcohol rehabilitation at Bradshaw House, at a cost of $10,000, following the crash.
Prosecutor Gregory Lascaris said: “The reading is astronomical ... the community is sick of these offences.
“It is aggravated by her (having) her one-year-old child in the vehicle.”
Defence lawyer Michael Kuzilny said Codd had taken “positive” and “courageous” steps since the crash to address her addiction.
As well as spending time in rehabilitation Codd is attending regular AA meetings.
“She has done everything in her power to address her issues,” Mr Kuzilny said.
“There has been a continued sense of remorse and shame.
“She recognises this is well and truly the end of the road.”
The court heard Codd had forged a successful career as a speech pathologist working with children in schools.
In 2016 she suffered from postnatal depression and separated from her husband.
Magistrate Rose Falla said the court was sympathetic to Codd’s issues but that a jail sentence was appropriate.
“It is clear you have struggled with addiction for several years,” she said.
“You have to be commended for your efforts with rehabilitation.
“You are incredibly fortunate the outcome was not more tragic.
“Almost six times the legal limit ... it beggars belief you were able to drive.
“Thankfully you and nobody else were injured.
“I accept you are ashamed by your conduct.”
Codd was sentenced to 45 days in prison and ordered to complete a 12 month community corrections order on her release.
Her appeal will be heard on December 4.