Busselton woman pleads guilty to driving under the influence after fleeing holiday home due to fears of a fire

A South West woman and mental health worker who fled her Quinninup holiday home in fear of a fire has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and lost her licence for 30 months. Liisa Eddy appeared via video link at Manjimup Magistartes Court on a charge of driving under the influence after she fled her Quinninup holiday home due to a series of smoke alerts issued for the area. Driving south along South Western Highway about 2.41pm on March 14, Eddy was stopped by another road user who dialled 000 after concerns for the way in which Eddy was driving. Upon their arrival near an intersection leading on to Vasse Highway about 5pm police conducted a breath test on Eddy which returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.244. After entering a plea of guilty, Eddy’s trial revealed she had a previous conviction for a similar charge, however the Busselton woman said she wanted to “stay absent from alcohol” and fled her house on March 14 due to having a cold and fears of a fire. “I was staying with my husband in our holiday home in Quinninup and I had a cold,” she said ”I do a lot of work for suicide prevention and mental health around the South West.” Magistrate Joanne Andretich acknowledged a series of letters and documents Eddy had sent to help her case, one of which outlined the mental health work she undertakes across the South West. “I do understand that you and your partner do a great deal of mental health work for other people in crisis and I do understand the background to your personal circumstances as to what encouraged your partner and you to move into that area,” she said. “In light of the fact that it was such a significant amount of alcohol in your system I am going to impose a fine of $4000. “It is a significant fine because it is a second conviction.” In addition to her $4000 fine, Eddy also received a 30 month disqualification from driving and must pay court costs of $259.30.