Margaret Wingate of Kerr Street, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday to charges of careless driving and drink-driving.

The court heard that Warrnambool police received a call at 9.45pm on February 15 this year regarding a car that had run into a tree on a nature strip in Derby Street.

When police arrived they found Wingate, the driver of the car, with a cut to her nose and “not making much sense, confused and smelling of alcohol”, the court heard.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton said Wingate “could not elaborate on what happened as she was ... in and out of consciousness”.

While assessing the scene, police discovered Wingate had also hit a parked car, causing an estimated $5000 damage.

The court heard Wingate was taken to hospital and placed in intensive care but was found to have no major injuries. Tests showed she had a blood-alcohol reading of .192.

During a later police interview, Wingate conceded driving was an act of “bloody stupidity” that came after drinking at a wedding.

Defence counsel Amanda Chambers said her client was “most embarrassed” and that since the accident she had handed in her licence, got rid of her car and made a decision with her family “not to drive again”.

No restitution order was made regarding the approximately $5000 worth of damage, but magistrate Peter Mellas convicted Wingate, disqualified her from driving for 19 months and placed her on a 12-month good behaviour bond.