By JOLENE OGLE
MAGISTRATE John Hodgins said Noosa Shire’s drink-driving problem was “appalling” as two women appeared before the court on high-range drink driving charges.
Sally Katrina Clark of Eumundi pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the Noosa Magistrates’ Court to driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Melissa Campbell said witnesses saw Clark driving across the Eumundi Markets car park field on 30 May, before becoming bogged in the mud.
Witnesses tried to help Clark out of the vehicle, before she fell to the ground.
Police later attended Clark’s home where they alleged she was stumbling, falling over and talking with a slur.
Clark was then purported to have run away from police when they tried to take her to the station for a breath test.
Sgt Campbell said while the police weren’t able to breath test the defendant, it was clear from the accounts of witnesses and police that Clark was intoxicated.
“The defendant posed an extraordinary risk to the community and to herself (by driving),” she said.
Sgt Campbell asked the magistrate to treat the matter as an extremely high blood alcohol reading.
Clark’s driving history included four previous drink driving charges including a .299 per cent BAC reading in 2010 and a .256 per cent BAC reading in 2008.
Clark’s defence lawyer said the defendant had fractured her skull only 24 hours before the incident and said the event may have been a result of the injury, however, no medical records were handed to the court.
Magistrate Hodgins said it was “simply unacceptable to have high levels of drink driving in the community.”
He labelled her traffic history as “sad” and previous drink driving convictions as “disgraceful”.
Clark was sentenced to nine months’ jail with immediate parole and disqualified from driving for two years.
Monika Miethke of Pomona also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, at Noosa Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Miethke was placed on probation for two years and disqualified from driving for 18 months, for driving with a BAC of .293 per cent on 6 August.
Miethke also presented with a history of drink driving offences including a conviction in 2011 for driving with a BAC of .075 per cent, .186 per cent in 2007 and .132 per cent in 1992.
Magistrate Hodgins said the number of drink drivers in Noosa was “appalling”.
Sgt Campbell said it was vital to send a message to the community that it was not acceptable to drink and then drive.
