Seaforth woman pleads guilty to punching cop after drink-drive crash fractured driver's neck

A Sydney woman nearly three times the legal limit has admitted attacking police after her Land Rover hit another car head-on, breaking the other driver's neck.

Michelle Louise Lewis, 53, of Seaforth, outside Manly Local Court on October 22, 2025, where she faced charges of mid-range drink driving and assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty. Picture: Manly Daily

A female drunk driver in a luxury 4WD took a swing at a male cop just moments after a Wednesday afternoon head-on collision that left the other motorist with a broken neck.

Michelle Louise Lewis, 53, was behind the wheel of her Land Rover Discovery when it travelled on to the wrong side of the road and hit a small Mazda hatchback at Freshwater.

Lewis, who told police she had downed just glasses of wine, was close to three times the limit, Manly Local Court heard on Wednesday.

She blew 0.137.

In the crash on Harbord Rd at 4.20pm on August 27, the female driver of the Mazda “sustained a fracture to their neck due to the motor vehicle collision caused by the accused”, according to a facts sheet tendered to court.

The court heard that the collision, caused by Michelle Louise Lewis, 53, of Seaforth, resulted in the other female driver suffering a neck fracture. Picture: Manly Daily

The injured woman was taken by ambulance, to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Lewis pleaded guilty to assault police officer in execution of duty and mid-range drink driving in court on Wednesday.

In a facts sheet, police stated when they arrived at the crash scene, Lewis was glassy eyed, unsteady on her feet and “acting strange”.

Michelle Louise Lewis, will be sentenced in Manly Local Court in January. Picture: Manly Daily

She was asked to produce her drivers licence and told officers that it was in her car and that “I will get it”.

But when a male officer grabbed her right shoulder, telling her she was not free to leave because she was under arrest, Lewis lashed out.

She yelled “no” and turned to face the officer, according to the facts sheet.

“The accused, with a closed right fist, swings her right arm and collides with the left side of (the officer’s) torso.”

The officer grabbed both of Lewis’s shoulders “however, she continued to resist control”.

Two officers placed her in handcuffs before she was taken to Manly police station.

“During the accused’s time in custody, she was unco-operative with police,” the facts sheet stated.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss adjourned the matter for sentencing in Manly Local Court on January 14.

Originally published as Seaforth woman pleads guilty to punching cop after drink-drive crash fractured driver's neck