High Range Drink Driver Faces Sentencing in August

Cheryl Lee Harvie has entered a guilty plea to charges of high range drink driving and disqualified driving.

The 46 year old Emerald Beach woman appeared before Magistrate Gibson on Tuesday in Coffs Harbour Local Court.

On Saturday, Ms Harvie returned a breath analysis of 0.324 at Coffs Harbour Police Station.

In court, the magistrate was reminded that the woman was also disqualified from driving until 2024.

Ms Harvie entered a guilty plea, requesting an adjournment to seek help for an alcohol problem.

It was heard that for the first time, she acknowledged after 7 years that she had a very serious drinking problem.

Magistrate Gibson asked what she had done to get help, the response, “she arranged to attend an AA meeting”.

The court also heard that Ms Harvie had two prior drink driving matters recorded in Western Australia.

Accompanied by her husband, Ms Harvie was visibly emotional when Magistrate Gibson told the court he was not willing to allow her an adjournment to seek entry to residential rehab.

“She has a history of non compliance”, he said.

The penalty for the offence is a maximum 2 year prison sentence.

The matter had been adjourned until August 7 for sentencing.