A MAGISTRATE has issued an arrest warrant for a woman who failed to appear in court after being pulled over with a near fatal blood alcohol reading of more than seven times the legal limit.
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Kelli Bowen, 46, was a no-show again in Belmont Local Court last week and was convicted in her absence of high-range drink driving and three counts of assaulting a frontline emergency worker.
The charges each carry a jail term and Magistrate Stephen Olischlager issued a warrant for Bowen's arrest to bring her to court to face the music.
Bowen was pulled over on the Pacific Highway at Gateshead about 11.15am on March 19 after police were concerned by her driving.
After she returned a positive roadside breath test, Bowen was arrested and taken to Belmont police station where she recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.356 - more than seven times the legal limit.
A person with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.350 has the potential to go into a coma, according to alcohol and drug experts.
Bowen's license was suspended on the spot and she was issued a court attendance notice to appear in court on March 27.
However, when Bowen did not appear in court on that date, the magistrate made a note that the registry should notify her of her next court date - April 10.
When she failed to appear again, Magistrate Olischlager heard the matter in her absence, convicted her of all four offences and issued a warrant for her arrest.
