Eighth drink-driving conviction for pregnant woman

A pregnant woman caught driving while drunk for the eighth time faces a lengthy jail term, she was told minutes before she left the court and went to the pub.

Rachael Brown, 38, was appearing in Rotorua District Court yesterday on her eighth drunk driving charge and her 15th for driving while disqualified.

She was eight months' pregnant when caught drink driving for the eighth time.

She had never held a driver's licence and in 2005 was banned for life from obtaining one, The New Zealand Herald reported today.

Her sentencing yesterday for drink driving and driving while disqualified was delayed until May for a pre-sentence report but the judge told her home detention was not an option and she faced a lengthy jail term.

When stopped by police in July, 2006, her breath-alcohol level was 994mcg per litre of breath – 594mcg over the legal limit.

She told police she was driving because she was not as drunk as her two passengers.

She was remanded on bail when the court heard she was the sole caregiver for her two children and was looking after her partner's children while he was in jail.

She went to a bar near the court with her supporters after the hearing and abused the media.

- NZPA