A woman who smashed her car into a fence has pleaded guilty to drink driving while six times over the legal limit.
Sydney woman Natalie Jane Kaglatzis, 48, of Frenchs Forest, was at the Belrose Hotel on July 7 when she reversed her Mazda 3 sedan into a fence while trying to leave.
After police arrived, Kaglatzis repeatedly asked them if they ‘wanted to play’ before she returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.306 and officers took her into custody.
Sydney woman Natalie Jane Kaglatzis, 48, (pictured) has pleaded guilty to drink driving after crashing her car as a local tavern while six times over the legal limit
Kaglatzis has visited the Belrose Hotel (pictured) after her grandmother’s funeral on July 7 when she reversed her car 20 metres before smashing into a fence
Her solicitor, Fiona Hadlington, told the Manly Local Court on Tuesday her client has battled alcohol issues and had been at her grandmother’s funeral the day of the crash.
Kaglatzis told the court she had been committed to her alcohol rehabilitation but the death of her grandmother caused her to ‘relapse’, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘I don’t ever drink and drive,’ she said.
Ms Hadlington was seeking an at home detention order for her client but police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh urged the court to sentence her to a ‘full-time jail term’.
Sgt Walsh said not jailing the northern beaches woman would put other people at risk because she has made ‘poor and rash decisions’.
Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said she was ‘surprised’ Kaglatzis was conscious at the time, given her level of intoxication.
Ms Goodwin said it was pure luck an innocent bystander wasn’t injured after saying a car in the hands of an intoxicated driver was a ‘weapon’.
Ms Goodwin adjourned the matter until August 19 when sentencing will commence.
Kaglatzis’ application for home detention will be assessed in that time.
She remains in custody on remand and no bail was applied for.
The Manly Local Court heard Kaglatzis (pictured) repeatedly asked police officer on the scene if they ‘wanted to play’ before returning a BAL of 0.306, she will be sentenced on August 19
Source:
