Melissa Telhia Mallet, a media officer for the Brisbane Broncos, has pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving after crashing into multiple parked cars while allegedly over three times the legal alcohol limit. At 39 years of age, Mallet appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court, marking her as the third individual associated with the Broncos facing similar charges in the last ten months.
The incident occurred on June 2 in Paddington, where police responded to reports of a crash at approximately 9:45 PM. Upon arrival, officers found considerable damage to several vehicles and residents in the area. When questioned, Mallet admitted to being the driver and underwent testing that revealed her blood alcohol concentration was 0.156.
Testifying against her, police described Mallet as appearing confused and exhibiting slurred speech at the scene. She claimed to have consumed four to five glasses of wine before the incident. During the hearing, Magistrate Joseph Pinder expressed deep concern regarding her intoxication level, highlighting the potential for serious injuries due to her reckless behaviour.
In a show of remorse, Mallet’s defence lawyer, Michael Kelly, stated that she felt embarrassed by the media coverage and had actively sought rehabilitation following the incident. Kelly indicated that Mallet had reached out to the owners of the cars she damaged to apologise and accept responsibility for the repair costs.
Despite Mallet’s previously clean record concerning drink driving, her driving history was noted as less than favourable. However, from the court’s perspective, she seemed unlikely to reoffend, as her employer spoke fondly of her character. In light of these considerations, Magistrate Pinder decided on a $1,000 fine and a nine-month disqualification from driving, with no conviction recorded.
Following the court proceedings, Mallet chose not to comment to the media. In related news, Broncos player Ezra Mam recently pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was fined for his involvement in a crash, while former Bronco Steve Renouf apologised for being caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.197. Renouf also faces court proceedings forthcoming on July 16.
This series of incidents raises ongoing concerns about alcohol-related behaviours among those affiliated with the Broncos, prompting discussions around responsibility within the club.