A Thirroul nurse who got behind the wheel of her car and drove after downing a bottle of wine will be put to work in the community as penance for her crime.
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Samantha King was handed a 14-month community corrections order after pleading guilty to high-range drink-driving in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.
As part of the order, the 47-year-old will be required to perform 100 hours of unpaid community service work.
She was also banned from driving for nine months, then must have an alcohol interlock device fitted into her car for a further four years.
A set of agreed facts tendered to the court revealed police were patrolling the Princes Highway at Bulli on the evening of May 2 when they saw King's vehicle driving partially in two lanes.
She knows she won't be driving for a long time.
The officers activated their warning lights and sirens and pulled King over outside a house in Point Street.
They approached the vehicle and immediately noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside car when King wound her window down.
She was asked to produce her driver's licence, but told officers "I don't have it, it's at home".
She was given a roadside breath test which returned a positive reading for alcohol, prompting the officers to take her to Corrimal Police Station for a formal test.
The court heard she blew an alcohol reading of 0.163 - more than three times the legal limit.
She told police she'd drunk a 700ml bottle of wine between 4pm and 7.30pm that evening, without eating.
In court on Tuesday, defence lawyer Graeme Morrison said King had been going to buy cigarettes when she was pulled over.
"She knows she won't be driving for a long time," he said.