A drink driver who was using her mobile phone when she allegedly crashed her car into a six-year-old girl in Sydney's north-west has entered a not guilty plea to the charge of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
Barbara Farlow, 50, pleaded guilty to driving whilst using a mobile phone and high range drink driving in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday afternoon.
But her solicitor, Gabriel Chipkin, from the Aboriginal Legal Service, entered a not guilty plea on her behalf to a third charge of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle.
Farlow was allegedly six times over the legal blood alcohol limit and on her mobile phone when she crashed her car into the girl in Eastwood earlier this month.
Police said Farlow was attempting to reverse her car from a parking spot when it struck the girl as she tried to cross between parked cars near a small suburban shopping centre.
It is believed the girl was trapped between cars for about three minutes. She was taken to The Children's Hospital at Westmead in a serious but stable condition.
Police said Farlow also hit two parked cars, and in a separate incident damaged two other vehicles. She allegedly attempted to leave the crash site but was arrested nearby a short time later.
Court documents show that Farlow recorded a blood alcohol reading of .303 and it was her second drink driving offence. The legal limit is 0.05.
Farlow had one supporter in court and did not speak during her brief appearance.
Police allege that Farlow, who lives in Rydalmere and is unemployed, made admissions to the offences and that there were a number of independent witnesses.
Inspector Anthony Boyd from Ryde Local Area Command told reporters after the crash that it could have been "catastrophic".
"The offending driver in this instance was heavily impaired by alcohol, with an alcohol reading approximately six times the legal limit," he said.
"Obviously with that level impairment, this could have been a catastrophic incident involving a young lady which could have resulted in her death or, in fact, others. With that level impairment, how do you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and attempt to drive, let alone walk?
"It could've been a hell of a lot worse," he said.
The charge of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle falls under Section 53 of the Crimes Act and has a maximum two year prison sentence. Police say Farlow's use of a mobile phone and the fact she was drink driving amount to the misconduct offence.
Farlow is due back in court on December 7.
