Skye Wheatley cut a sombre figure as she arrived at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to face a mid-range drink-driving charge.
The former Big Brother Australia star, 32, appeared subdued as she walked towards the Gold Coast courthouse accompanied by another woman.
Skye shielded her eyes behind narrow black sunglasses and repeatedly looked down at her mobile phone as she made her way inside.
The mother-of-two dressed conservatively for the appearance in an oversized pale-grey blazer and matching wide-leg trousers, teamed with a fitted white top.
She completed her courtroom ensemble with clear open-toed heels, delicate gold jewellery and a slouchy beige shoulder bag.
Her blonde hair was swept into a neat bun and secured with a large claw clip, with several strands left loose around her face.
Skye Wheatley cut a sombre figure as she arrived at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to face a mid-range drink-driving charge
The former Big Brother Australia star, 32, appeared subdued as she walked towards the Gold Coast courthouse accompanied by another woman
Wheatley’s appearance came after she broke her silence over the charge in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, admitting she was ‘deeply disappointed’ in herself.
She is accused of recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.119 on Saturday after police approached her while she was parked outside a McDonald’s restaurant.
Wheatley said she had remained at the location for approximately four hours in an attempt to sober up before a passer-by contacted police.
While she believed the circumstances were important in explaining what happened, the influencer insisted she was not offering them as an excuse.
‘I made a really poor decision and I’m deeply disappointed in myself,’ Wheatley said.
‘There isn’t an excuse for what happened. I take responsibility for my actions and I know I have to deal with the consequences.’
She said the incident had forced her to confront how quickly a decision involving alcohol could produce lasting repercussions.
‘If anything good can come from me talking about this, I hope somebody else thinks twice,’ she said.
Skye shielded her eyes behind narrow black sunglasses and repeatedly looked down at her mobile phone as she made her way inside
The mother-of-two dressed conservatively for the appearance in an oversized pale-grey blazer and matching wide-leg trousers, teamed with a fitted white top
Her blonde hair was swept into a neat bun and secured with a large claw clip, with several strands left loose around her face
Wheatley’s appearance came after she broke her silence over the charge in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, admitting she was ‘deeply disappointed’ in herself
She is accused of recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.119 on Saturday after police approached her while she was parked outside a McDonald’s restaurant
Wheatley said she had remained at the location for approximately four hours in an attempt to sober up before a passer-by contacted police
‘Don’t make the mistake I made. If you’ve been drinking, don’t take the chance. It’s just not worth it.’
Wheatley said she did not want the circumstances surrounding her encounter with police to distract from her acceptance of responsibility.
‘I don’t want this to become about making excuses,’ she said.
‘I made the wrong decision. That’s what I have to take responsibility for, and that’s what I’m doing.’
The Mail understands Wheatley has begun exploring professional support following the incident and has received information about programs providing access to therapists, psychologists, doctors and other services.
She said the experience had also caused her to reassess her relationship with alcohol and the choices she makes when drinking.
‘I don’t just want to say sorry because I’ve been caught in a bad situation and then forget about it,’ she said.
‘I want to learn something from this and actually make changes so I’m never sitting in this position again.’
While she believed the circumstances were important in explaining what happened, the influencer insisted she was not offering them as an excuse
‘I made a really poor decision and I’m deeply disappointed in myself,’ Wheatley said
Skye rose to fame on Big Brother Australia in 2014 and has since amassed an enormous following across social media.
The reality star said her long relationship with her audience was one reason she wanted to speak openly about the alleged incident.
‘I’ve shared so much of my life with people over the years – the good and the bad,’ she said.
‘I’m human and I got this wrong. I can’t undo it, but I can decide what I do from here.’
Wheatley urged her followers never to gamble with their safety after consuming alcohol.
‘If you’re questioning whether you’re okay to drive, don’t,’ she said.
‘Get an Uber, call someone, leave the car where it is. Whatever inconvenience that causes is nothing compared to what can happen when you make the wrong decision.’
The influencer said she was prepared to face the consequences of what she described as a serious error of judgment.
‘I’m disappointed in myself that I put myself in this position, but I’m going to learn from it,’ she said.
‘Hopefully someone else can learn from my mistake too.’
