Masterchef champion Julie Goodwin pleads guilty to drink driving after running from breath-test

Inaugural Australian Masterchef champion Julie Goodwin has pleaded guilty to drink driving after trying to do a runner from a roadside breath test earlier this year.

Goodwin, 47, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.107 – more than double the legal limit – when she was pulled over and subsequently arrested at North Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast in April. 

Her solicitor Ken Stewart entered a guilty plea to one count of mid-range drink-driving when he appeared alongside his client in Gosford County Court on Friday, The Daily Telegraph reports. 

Her solicitor Ken Stewart (pictured: right) entered a guilty plea to one count of mid-range drink-driving when he appeared alongside his client in Gosford County Court on Friday

Mr Stewart told the court that he would ‘unashamedly ask for no conviction’.

Goodwin, who faced a maximum sentence of nine months jail, a $2200 fine and a 12-month suspension from driving, appeared stoic as her husband Mick accompanied her to court.

She was ultimately handed a $600 fine and a six-month suspension.

Goodwin faced a maximum sentence of nine months jail, a $2200 fine and a 12-month suspension from driving, but was ultimately handed a $600 fine and a six-month suspension

Goodwin was arrested on April 12 as part of a crackdown on drink driving by Brisbane Water police.

Officers noticed Goodwin’s distinctive Mini Cooper approaching the roadside breath test on the Pacific Highway at North Gosford before the vehicle pulled a last minute U-turn and drove off in the opposite direction. 

Goodwin was pursued and located in a nearby side street, where she failed a breath test before being taken to Gosford Police Station.