VERA Thomas had 12 heavy beers before driving on May 30 and later registered a high-range blood alcohol reading.
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A court heard yesterday it was made worse by the fact she has never held a driver’s licence.
Thomas, 36, moved to Albury from Wilcannia accompanied by her three children to escape domestic violence. She has been unable to obtain a licence through literacy issues.
Thomas appeared in Albury Local Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to charges of not having held a licence and drink-driving.
Magistrate Tony Murray imposed a $500 fine for the drink-driving matter, disqualified her for nine months and imposed an interlock period of two years.
Thomas was fined $100 on the other charge.
The court was told police were driving along Kotthoff Street at Lavington about 12.05am on May 30.
They came up behind a Ford sedan which was travelling at a very slow speed through the intersection at McDonald Road and Hall Avenue.
Police activated the lights on their vehicle and the car turned left at a slow rate into Douglas Road.
Officers spoke to Thomas, asked for her licence and she replied: “I haven’t got a licence.”
She was arrested after a positive breath test and a later breath analysis gave a reading of 0.185.
Police said at the time of her offending there was only light traffic.