Jodhi Meares fires back on Instagram over drink driving case

FASHION designer and ex-wife of James Packer Jodhi Meares has become embroiled in an Instagram row with a critic who doesn’t agree with her drink-driving penalty.

FASHION designer and ex-wife of James Packer Jodhi Meares has become embroiled in an Instagram row with a critic who doesn’t agree with her drink-driving penalty.

Meares, who has not spoken since she was fined $1100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months, has bit back at one of her Instagram followers, who thought she got off lightly.

Meares, 43, fought back telling him he had a “very narrow view” at first.

PLEADING GUILTY: Jodhi Meares “haunted” by marriage to James Packer

Standing up for herself ... Jodhi Meares speaks up on Instagram. Picture: Iconosquare/Instagram, Jodhi Meares

She then went on to say to him: “67% of people get exactly the same charge as I did actually. Obviously you have a law degree?”

Instagram row ... Jodhi Meares defends herself against a critic on the social photo sharing platform. Picture: Instagram/Jodhi Meares

The row continued on her most recent post yesterday, when she posted one of her inspirational quotes-style pictures of the words: “I can’t” with a pair of scissors cutting it to say “I can”.

As he continued to criticise her, Meares then wrote a lengthy reply, telling him her driving record was “actually better than most”.

She also said a suspension she had before was due to “parking fines not reckless driving or any other drink driving charges”.

Telling her side ... Jodhi Meares on Instagram. Picture: Iconosquare, Instragram/Jodhi Meares

Meares then defended herself further, by saying she stuck to the “recommended government legislation of 1 drink an hour” on the night when she had her accident in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburb of Bellevue Hill.

She was not alone, as her supporters rallied behind her on the post.

One person wrote: “You are my inspiration Jodhi. I look up to you as someone that has survived and thrived adversity. Keep posting! Namaste”

Another follower posted: “if you’re so disgusted why in the world are you following her on Instagram? There is no question what she did was not ok, put lives at risk etc etc... However there’s not too many people who can be so outraged without casting a glance at your own behaviour and realising how flawed we ALL ARE..”

Meares’ world was thrown into chaos after she pleaded guilty to high-range drink-driving charges after crashing into three parked cars on O’Sullivan Rd, Bellevue Hill in June.

Crash scene ... at O'Sullivan road Bellevue Hill.

Meares had to be rescued from her Range Rover, which rolled after the smash.

She was not injured in the accident.

Police stated she recorded a 0.181 blood alcohol reading, almost four times the legal limit.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Murphy told a Sydney court Meares had experienced extra-Curial punishment because of intense media interest that left her trapped in her house for 16 days after the crash, before she fled to the US.

Facing court ... Jodhi Meares pleaded guilty to charges in Sydney.

“She has been through a massive amount of stress,” Mr Murphy said.

He said Meares was so stressed about appearing in court she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication by her GP.

He also told the court she was “haunted” by her marriage to James Packer and he was trying to talk her out of leaving the country after the case.

He suggested her former marriage to Mr Packer had made her a media target.

Engaged ... Jodhi Meares and Jon Stevens. Picture: Instagram/Jodhi Meares

“She was married for just over two years and that has affected everything that was said about her since,” Mr Murphy told the court.

Ms Meares married billionaire James Packer in 1999 in a $10 million wedding ceremony. They divorced in 2002.

She is due to tie the knot with her current fiance rocker Jon Stevens, after the couple announced their engagement in July.