Coast gran blows seven times over limit after eight-hour bender

A GOLD Coast granny was busted seven times over the legal alcohol limit after an eight-hour bender, having just returned home after getting more booze at BWS.

Leanne Fay Bennett recorded the 0.353 per cent reading less than two weeks after losing her licence for blowing 0.275. The legal limit is 0.05.

“It’s amazing she is even alive, let alone driving a vehicle,” Magistrate Kay Philipson said.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Daniel McShane said it was “certainly the highest I’ve come across in my policing career.”

Bennett pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday to two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of driving without due care and attention, driving without a licence and failing to provide a breathe specimen.

Magistrate Philipson sentenced Bennett, 54, to two years probation and disqualified her from driving for three years. She was also fined $1200.

“I am absolutely astounded you were behind the wheel of a ehicle,” she said. “You are so lucky you did not injure or kill someone because you would be sitting in a jail cell and you would be going back there I think.”

Sen Const McShane said police were called to a crash in Tugun about 6pm on August 13 this year. Bennett was sitting in her Toyota Corolla after rear-ending a Kia Rio in a turning lane.

She was breath-tested and her licence was suspended.

Sen Const McShane said police were called about 2.30pm on August 26 when a member of the public saw a car driving erratically in Coomera.

He said a man watched her walk into BWS and then get back in her car and drive off.

Concerned, the member of the public followed Bennett.

Sen Const McShane said

Bennett was seen driving erratically including swerving on to the wrong side of the road, almost causing a crash on a roundabout and crashing into the centre island.

Bennett parked at her home and went inside. When police arrived, they found Bennett on the couch holding her keys.

Bennett refused a breath test but a blood test was taken at the hospital.