An Instagram starlet found drunk behind the wheel of her crashed Audi sedan in Sydney’s eastern suburbs had spent the day on a boozy harbour cruise.
When police found Melissa Golik, 25, at Rose Bay Wharf and asked if she had driven her car she was so confused she told them ‘I think I must have but I don’t remember’.
Golik, who has 73,000 Instagram followers and is a emergency department nurse, recorded a blood alcohol reading more than three times the legal limit.
She was arrested about 10pm on June 13 and faced Downing Centre Local Court on a high-range drink driving charge on Monday.
But not before she shared a flirty video of her outfit and shoes on social media.
Melissa Golik (pictured) was arrested for high range drink driving after police found her behind the wheel of a crumpled Audi after a big day out on the Harbour
Naughty nurse Ms Golik – who has more than 70,000 Instagram followers and is a friend of Big Brother star Skye Wheatley (pair together on left) – was fined and barred from driving
A police statement of facts said witnesses tried to raise Golik, but she refused to exit the car and ‘would just smile to them’
‘Just got asked if I was a solicitor,’ she wrote, along with three laughing emojis, just hours before she entered a guilty plea.
A concerned member of the public had called police about 9.30pm that Tuesday after several people saw Golik slumped over the steering wheel of her car.
The police facts said when officers found Golik, she appeared confused and unable to explain how the vehicle had come to be where it was
‘They told police they had tried to raise the accused however she refused to exit her vehicle and speak with them but would just smile to them,’ according to a statement of facts tendered to the court.
Upon arrival police saw a white Audi sedan in the carpark of Rose Bay wharf off New South Head Road.
Its front nearside bumper rested against the rear nearside bumper of a black BMW X3.
‘The accused, Melissa Golik, was seated in the driver’s seat of the white Audi with the engine turned off and the keyless remote placed on the centre console,’ the tendered facts stated.
‘Police approached the accused and began speaking with her in relation to what had occurred.
‘The accused appeared confused and unable to explain how her vehicle had come to be where it was, stating she had parked it there earlier that day.’
Police felt the bonnet if the Audi and found it to be warm but Golik could not state with certainty she had driven it.
‘While speaking with the accused police noted that she was confused, emotional, had slurred speech, glassy eyes and there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor on her breath,’ the facts stated.
Golik could not say with certainty she had driven the Audi, a police statement of facts said, and was more than three times over the legal limit when she was found behind the wheel
Friends in high places: Ms Golik is seen rubbing shoulders with former Bachelor contestant Sam Johnston (left) and Skye Wheatley (right) in Instagram pictures
Police noted she was confused, emotional and had slurred speech at the time, the facts said. Ms Golik is pictured above spending time with her dog
She admitted to drinking approximately four alcoholic drinks – one 30ml shot of Cointreau, one vodka and Diet Coke and one vodka with cranberry – while on the boat
During her conversation with police Golik called her friend Savannah Kyriazopoulon and passed the phone to an officer.
Ms Kyriazopoulon told police she and Golik had been on a harbour cruise and the pair had been dropped off at Rose Bay about 9pm.
Golik was arrested and taken to Waverley police station where she recorded a blood alcohol level of .173.
The Baulkham Hills woman told police she had boarded a charter boat about 2.45pm but could not recall what time she had been dropped off at the wharf.
She admitted to drinking approximately four alcoholic drinks – one 30ml shot of Cointreau, one vodka and Diet Coke and one vodka with cranberry – while on the boat.
She had also eaten some finger food.
‘The accused told police she remembered returning to her car and getting in the driver’s seat but had no recollection of getting into her vehicle,’ according to the statement of facts.
Barrister Rose Khalilizadeh submitted her client had worked a week of night shifts at Ryde Hospital and ate little during the cruise, which featured an open bar.
Golik had also argued with her ex-partner on the boat and was suffering anxiety and post-traumatic stress at the time.
Magistrate John Favretto was unmoved.
Barrister Rose Khalilizadeh submitted her client had worked a week of night shifts at hospital and ate little during the cruise. She is pictured above in her nursing uniform=
After she finished at court, Golik posted a video to Instagram of herself modelling a bikini (pictured)
‘It’s hard to see a correlation,’ Mr Favretto said. ‘She’s out partying on a boat and had too much to drink.’
Ms Khalilizadeh said Golik, originally from Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains, had completed a traffic offenders program and was remorseful for her actions.
She intended to study medicine in the future.
Mr Favretto said the seriousness of Golik’s offending was made worse by the fact she had been involved in a collision, albeit a minor one.
‘It’s fortunate that she did not get onto the road surface,’ he said.
‘Is the offence trivial? Absolutely not.’
Mr Favretto fined Golik $1100 and disqualified her from driving for six months.
She will have an interlock device which links breath testing to a car’s ignition fitted to her vehicle for two years.
After she finished at court, Golik posted a video to Instagram of herself modelling a bikini.