Skye Wheatley’s humiliation as it’s revealed cops found her passed out in her car at McDonald’s after drinking a bottle of Jim Beam – as reality star is banned from driving for five months
Skye Wheatley has been banned from driving for five months and fined $700 after pleading guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the alcohol limit.
Southport Magistrates Court heard on Monday that police found the former Big Brother Australia star passed out inside her car at a McDonald’s on the Gold Coast after she drank a bottle of Jim Beam in the vehicle over the course of a few hours.
Wheatley, 32, returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.119 after officers tapped on the vehicle’s windows and woke her up, at which point they detected a ‘strong smell of liquor coming from the vehicle’.
Her lawyer, Belinda Robinson, told the court Wheatley had flown to Melbourne on August 8 and was sleep-deprived when she returned home to the Gold Coast late.
Robinson said the mother-of-two, who recently called time on her relationship with long-time partner Lachlan Waugh, had been experiencing anxiety and depression about coming home and had barely eaten for a week before the incident.
Wheatley pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit.
Skye Wheatley has been fined $700 and banned from driving for five months after pleading guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit
Southport Magistrates Court heard on Monday that police found the former Big Brother Australia star passed out inside her car at a McDonald’s on the Gold Coast after she drank a bottle of Jim Beam in the vehicle over the course of a few hours
Robinson told the court that Wheatley was upset about ‘coming home to an empty house’ before making the trip to McDonald’s for a Frozen Coke drink.
Police prosecutor Darcey Hugonnet was dubious about Robinson’s claim that Wheatley was sober when she arrived at the fast food venue and had purchased a bottle of Jim Beam at a nearby bottle shop before drinking in her car.
Acting Magistrate Mark Whitbread also shared his doubts with the court.
‘It sounds unbelievable to me, having heard many of these things over the years,’ he said.
‘I simply can’t see how that could be accepted.’
In mitigation, Robinson said Wheatley had taken steps to address her mental health and her relationship with alcohol since the incident.
The court heard she had participated in a police program since August 20, consulted a psychologist and begun taking medication for anxiety and depression.
‘She understands how unacceptable her conduct was, she’s very remorseful and regretful for her behaviour, which she says she’ll never repeat,’ Robinson said.
Wheatley rose to fame on Big Brother Australia in 2014 and has since built a large social-media following.
Wheatley, 32, returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.119 after officers tapped on the vehicle’s windows and woke her up
Her lawyer, Belinda Robinson, told the court Wheatley had flown to Melbourne on August 8 and was sleep-deprived when she returned home to the Gold Coast late
Robinson said the mother-of-two, who recently called time on her relationship with long-time partner Lachlan Waugh, had been experiencing anxiety and depression about coming home and had barely eaten for a week before the incident
Earlier this month, she told the Daily Mail she was deeply disappointed in herself and accepted that there was no excuse for what happened.
‘I made a really poor decision and I’m deeply disappointed in myself,’ she said.
‘There isn’t an excuse for what happened. I take responsibility for my actions and I know I have to deal with the consequences.’
Wheatley had previously said she was parked outside the Gold Coast McDonald’s for approximately four hours when a passerby contacted police.
While she believed that context was important, she insisted it did not excuse her actions.
‘I don’t want this to become about making excuses,’ she said.
‘I made the wrong decision. That’s what I have to take responsibility for, and that’s what I’m doing.’
Following news of the charge, Wheatley told her Instagram followers she had endured ‘the worst two days of my life’ and felt ‘anxious, sad, numb and in shock’.
In mitigation, Robinson said Wheatley had taken steps to address her mental health and her relationship with alcohol since the incident
She was pictured being comforted by friend Tara Stafford as she attempted to process the fallout.
Wheatley also said the incident had forced her to reflect on her relationship with alcohol and the decisions she makes around drinking.
‘I don’t just want to say sorry because I’ve been caught in a bad situation and then forget about it,’ she said.
‘I want to learn something from this and actually make changes so I’m never sitting in this position again.’
She urged others never to risk getting behind the wheel if they were uncertain whether they were safe to drive.
‘If you’re questioning whether you’re okay to drive, don’t,’ Wheatley said.
‘Get an Uber, call someone, leave the car where it is. Whatever inconvenience that causes is nothing compared to what can happen when you make the wrong decision.’
