Melissa Dingle sentenced in Yeppoon court for drink driving

What started as a woman’s drunken supermarket spectacle turned into a wild drive down the wrong side of the road. But the slurring mother’s arrest that night would uncover something far worse.

Melissa Jane Dingle pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on July 4 to drink driving.

The mother of a teen killed in an alcohol-related crash has appeared in court for a shocking serious of events which followed her own decision to drink and drive.

Disturbing details were revealed as Melissa Jane Dingle, 53, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on Thursday to drink driving.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said about 7.18pm on June 11, police responded to a drink driving report after a witness called triple-0.

Ms Smith said the witness reported seeing Dingle, who appeared intoxicated, inside Drakes Supermarket at Emu Park, a coastal township near Yeppoon.

“The witness said (Dingle) was so unsteady on her feet she was barely able to walk, had slurred speech, smelt strongly of liquor and was trying to chat up young males,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard the witness saw Dingle get into the driver’s seat of a Kia Sportage outside the supermarket, before driving off, nearly hitting the witness.

“The witness followed (Dingle) and observed her drive over a roundabout heading towards Hartley Street,” Ms Smith said.

“The witness followed (Dingle) past the Caltex, advised the triple-0 operator (Dingle) was driving on the incorrect side of the road where there was an oncoming vehicle, and (Dingle) swerved all over the road.”

Ms Smith said the witness kept following Dingle, concerned there would be an accident, and stayed on the phone to the triple-0 operator.

“The witness stated (Dingle) put on her indicator and continued straight ahead and was indicating to go around a curve in the road.

“The witness observed (Dingle) … do a U-turn and eventually pull into a driveway at an address at Zilzie at 7.27pm.”

Ms Smith said police arrived at Dingle’s home at 7.40pm and saw the Kia Sportage parked in the driveway with the driver’s side door open.

“The garage door was open and the police observed (Dingle) inside the house.

“While speaking with (Dingle), police observed that (she) had slurred speech and was slow to react to police questions.

“Police also detected a strong smell of liquor on (her) breath.”

Melissa Jane Dingle.

Ms Smith said Dingle’s first breath specimen came back with a positive reading of .254 – then in another test later at the police station, she returned a blood-alcohol content of .160 which was the formal reading before the court.

The court heard that Dingle had been drinking beer since 1pm on the day of her offending.

It was told that Dingle had previously been caught drink driving in March last year (. 093) and in 2014 (. 196).

Solicitor Matthew Mallet said Dingle, who had now enrolled in a traffic offenders' program, worked as a cleaner and she experienced periods of emotional distress due to various personal tragedies.

“In 2017, my client’s only child, her 16-year-old daughter, died locally in a tragic motor vehicle accident,” Mr Mallet said.

“This devastating event has left a profound impact on her emotional wellbeing.

“Despite her efforts to cope, including receiving extensive counselling and relocating from Yeppoon to Zilzie to avoid the constant and painful reminders of her daughter, my client has not been able to fully recover from this event.”

Mr Mallet said Dingle, who “deeply regretted” her offending, lost her father when she was just 24 and she was currently providing essential support to her elderly mother who relied heavily on that care.

“I’m instructed by my client to apologise to the court.

“My client is focused on her work and supporting herself and her mother.”

Prior to sentencing, Magistrate Grace Kahlert noted the tragedy Dingle had experienced.

“That (loss of your daughter) would be devastating for any mother, and I accept that, that has left you with lifelong damage and it is somewhat ironic that there was drink driving involved in that as well.”

Ms Kahlert placed Dingle on 12 months’ probation and disqualified her from driving for nine months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Melissa Dingle sentenced in Yeppoon court for drink driving