A SANCTUARY Point woman who recorded a breath reading almost four times the legal limit had allegedly consumed a cask of wine and three mixed drinks before driving into Nowra, pleaded with police to “not take her licence away”.
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Christine Edwards De Leeuw, 59, of Pelican Street pleaded guilty to high range drink driving in Nowra Local Court on Monday.
The court heard Ms De Leeuw had driven from Sanctuary Point to Nowra on June 18 and was found by a witness standing in the middle of Kinghorne Street, Nowra at the intersection of Ernest Street, holding a dog.
The front driver’s side tyre on the vehicle was flat.
Court documents stated Ms De Leeuw’s vehicle was seen travelling north on the Princes Highway, overtaking cars at an estimated speed of 110-115km/h.
One motorist reported the car swerved back into the northbound lane and twice braked harshly, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Her vehicle was also seen swerving into the southbound lane near the Log Cabin petrol station at Tomerong.
Ms De Leeuw admitted to police she had been drinking allegedly saying ”I will be way over the limit. Please don’t take my licence off me.”
She admitted consuming a cask of wine from 5pm the day before and on June 18 consumed three vodka lemon cruisers before 8am before heading to Nowra to look for her son who she had concerns for.
She also spoke to police of the recent loss of her husband due to a brain tumor.
She was taken to Nowra Police Station and reduced a reading of 0.195.
She will be sentenced on August 22.