Booze crash mum pleads guilty

File photo / NZPA

A Christchurch mother who smashed into a power pole while more than three times the drink-driving limit and with three preschoolers in the back seat pleaded guilty today.

A shame-faced Amy Kathleen Reilly, 28, appeared in the dock to admit charges of careless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol of 1409 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa Goodson told Christchurch District Court today that around 2.20pm on June 19, Reilly was driving on Bower Ave, New Brighton, with the three children, all aged under five and one of them unrestrained, when she lost control of her car.

She veered to her left, mounted a footpath, and hit a power pole.

The children were unhurt.

Police earlier said Reilly initially attempted to drive off after hitting the power pole, but was stopped by a member of the public who reached in, removed the car keys and called police.

When spoken to by police, she claimed her driving had been affected by three valium pills she had taken earlier in the day.

At court today, Judge Paul Kellar ordered a pre-sentence report and set a sentencing date of November 28.

Her lawyer Craig Fletcher confirmed his client, who has previous drink drive convictions, was a mother, and that she had been undergoing counselling.

Police said earlier that her licence was immediately suspended after last month's incident.
Child, Youth and Family was called in relation to her children.