A WOMAN behind the wheel of a vehicle being driven erratically in the early hours at Eglinton was later found to be almost twice the legal alcohol limit.
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Representing herself in court, the woman said it was her first offence and "will also be my last offence".
Nilisha Sigdel, 28, of Lambert Street, Bathurst, was in Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 to plead guilty to driving with a mid-range PCA.
Police documents before the court said police saw a Hyundai sedan travelling south on Hamilton Street, Eglinton at about 1.40am on Sunday, September 7, 2025 and followed it.
The sedan was driving at erratic speeds, slowing down and speeding up, moving around within the lane and not cornering well, according to the police documents.
The car was pulled over on Eglinton Road and a roadside breath test returned a positive result.
Sigdel was arrested and taken to the police station, where a breath analysis gave a reading of 0.097.
Her licence was suspended.
Police said Sigdel's breath smelt of liquor, her speech was slightly slurred and several attempts were required to successfully perform the roadside breath test.
Sigdel said she had consumed four glasses of wine earlier in the evening, her last drink being at least three hours before being stopped by police, according to the police documents.
In court
Sigdel told the court that she wanted to apologise "for making such a poor decision that night".
She understood that it was a very serious offence and she had not only put herself at risk, but also the community, she said.
Sigdel said she believed that she was safe to drive.
She had, since the incident, enrolled in a traffic program, Sigdel said.
It was her first offence and "will also be my last offence", she told the court.
The court was also presented with a number of character references.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Cooper said the offence had been aggravated by Sigdel's manner of driving.
Mid-range PCA carries a maximum penalty of nine months' imprisonment and "that's how serious" it is, Sergeant Cooper said.
She said the prosecution was asking for a conviction.
Magistrate's decision
Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith said Sigdel had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and this was the first matter on her criminal record.
It was a "significant reading", Ms Slack-Smith said, and was aggravated "by virtue of the way in which you were driving".
Ms Slack-Smith convicted Sigdel, fined her $800 and disqualified her from driving for three months, starting September 7, 2025.
Sigdel will also be subject to a mandatory interlock order for 12 months.
