A glamorous Instagram influencer has narrowly avoided prison after a drink-driving rampage where she crashed into multiple cars and flipped her vehicle.
Patricia Hadjia was behind the wheel of a Jeep Grand Cherokee when it rolled onto its side about 9.50pm on Duncan St in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra on October 16 last year.
The 28-year-old, known to her 39,000 Instagram followers as “Torpedo Trish”, was trapped in the car with its owner Christopher De Rito, who was in the passenger seat.
The pair managed to free themselves from the wreckage before emergency services arrived and discovered a trail of destruction.
Hadjia appeared at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after confessing to one charge of high-range drink-driving.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said Hadjia deserved a “very firm sanction”.
xjmtzywThe court was told Hadjia had only received her first Covid-19 vaccination on Monday so she could undergo community service as a condition of her impending sentence.
Her defence barrister Tom Hughes told the court that the influencer was “very concerned about giving back to the community”.
Court documents reveal Hadjia was driving at an unknown speed when she crashed into the rear of a parked Toyota Corolla and continued driving before rear-ending a stationary Subaru Forrester.
She then swerved the car and ploughed into a Kia, forcing the Jeep to roll onto its side.
When police arrived they noticed the smell of alcohol and conducted a breath test. Hadjia returned a reading of 0.181 – more than three times the legal limit.
In an interview with police, Hadjia said she drank five cocktails and ate tapas at a wedding between 3pm and 9pm before she got behind the wheel.
However, Mr Hughes on Tuesday told the court that while she only bought herself a few drinks, a barman at the venue had given her more drinks and was being “heavy-handed” with their pouring.
He said Hadjia was a young, hardworking woman who had a “solid” employment history and just two driving offences – one camera offence and one parking ticket.
“She didn’t drive to the party, she got a lift with another guest, but she was left behind. It doesn’t excuse the behaviour, but it is context,” Mr Hughes said.
The court was told that Hadjia had repaid $38,190 in damages.
“That’s her life savings, gone,” Mr Hughes said.
“This woman has accepted full responsibility for her behaviour and has full remorse.”
Ms Milledge said the 28-year-old was “not unlike” most people she dealt with in court every day.
She conceded that Hadjia was a hardworking young woman who was sorry and embarrassed for what she had done.
“But that’s the whole basis of drink-driving legislation, to try and tackle the problem where it is felt most,” Ms Milledge said.
“People like you, people who think they don’t have to worry about going before the court – they go out and exercise poor judgment and put people at risk, which you did on this occasion.”
Ms Milledge said despite Hadjia being “scared” of her toxic ex-boyfriend, it did not stop the influencer from going to the wedding and “drinking, and having a good time”.
She said Hadjia could have said no to taking the car keys.
“You know when you’re drinking the strength of your drinks. With a job like yours you’d be familiar with alcohol,” she said.
Ms Milledge told Hadjia that she came “perilously close” to being sent to prison.
“People in your position with alcohol content 0.181 … that’s shameful, seriously shameful,” she said.
Hadjia was handed a community corrections order for three years, during which she will have to undergo 400 hours of community service.
The magistrate said the three-year order was to allow Hadjia to get all three of her Covid-19 vaccinations.
Her licence was also disqualified for nine months, beginning on October 16 last year.
She will also be on an alcohol interlock program for 24 months.
“Do you understand what has happened? Go live your best life,” Ms Milledge said.
