Drink-driving mum let off after blowing six times legal limit with toddler in car
A judge has overturned a jail term for an alcoholic, single mother who was caught driving almost six times over the legal limit.
She was nabbed by police after veering off the road with her toddler son in the back seat.
After weeping tears of relief, Renee Codd left court a free woman with a simple message about her irresponsible driving: "I'm sorry".
In September, a magistrate jailed the single mum for 45 days after she crashed her car in Sunbury, Victoria with her one-year-old son in the back seat.
She had just collected him from day care after drinking heavily at home, stressed about an argument with her ex-partner.
When she was stopped by police she blew 2.94, almost six times over the limit.
On Monday the 34-year-old appealed her jail term and it was overturned, despite having been caught drink-driving twice before.
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Her lawyer Sharon Kermath told the County Court her client was an intelligent woman with a Master's degree in speech pathology but she suffered from alcoholism and a chronic anxiety disorder.
Her parents paid $10,000 to put her through rehab for alcoholism, the court heard.
"She feels sick every day and vomits nearly every day because of what could have happened," her lawyer said.
Ms Codd's wake-up call was losing control at a roundabout with her son on board, ending up in a ditch.
Despite her high blood alcohol reading, she told police she had consumed just two glasses of wine.
"I'm not going to lecture you," the judge said.
"You've realised the low ebb that you hit."
Ms Codd was convicted, received a one-year community corrections order and her licence was disqualified for four years.
"She's doing rehabilitation and she knows what she's done is wrong," Mr Kermath said.
