Playboy model 'shaking like a leaf' in court after being caught up in DUI crash - as no-nonsense judge rips in

By PAUL SHAPIRO, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 00:44, 23 April 2026 | Updated: 00:54, 23 April 2026 A Gold Coast Playboy model was 'shaking like a leaf' while she fronted court for causing a two-vehicle collision while almost five times the legal blood-alcohol limit. Aussie model Samantha Stubbs, 30, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates' Court earlier this month to driving under the influence of a high-range of liquor. The Point Paradise glamour is also a registered nurse but the court heard that job is now in jeopardy after the incident in Surfers Paradise on March 8. The court heard police rushed to the scene about 7.30pm following reports a woman had been 'driving erratically' prior to a two-vehicle crash.  Stubbs told officers she had 'only consumed a single glass of wine'.  Police noted the smell of liquor on Stubbs' breath, her slurred speech, and her 'aggressive and argumentative behaviour towards police', the court heard. Stubbs refused a breath test but a blood sample taken at Gold Coast University Hospital returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.242 per cent. The model, who the court heard had 'no relevant criminal history', was previously a registered nurse who worked across a number of aged care facilities. Samantha Stubbs appeared on the June/July cover of Maxim Australia last year The Aussie model, 30, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates' Court earlier this month to a charge of driving under the influence of a high-range of liquor While Stubbs isn't nursing she is working as glamorous lingerie model who has recently appeared on the covers of both Playboy Australia and Maxim Australia. Maxim described her as 'confident, vibrant, fun, loyal, [and] up-and-coming'. Playboy said Stubbs, who models under the name 'Sam Stubbs', was 'capturing hearts'. The model's defence lawyer, Brooke Winter, told the court her client would be unable to continue working as a nurse due to the loss of her licence. Ms Winter described his client as a 'highly respected member of the community' who was of 'impeccable character', the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. The lawyer said her client was 'highly embarrassed' having never faced court before and was 'shaking like a leaf' during the April 13 sentencing.  Ms Winter said Stubbs had been off the roads since the crash and had the 'added punishment' of paying for the damage caused to both vehicles out of her own pocket. The court heard insurance companies would not pay a cent due to her 'intoxication'. But Magistrate Lisa O'Neill did not hold back, lashing Stubbs for driving while drunk and saying there was 'no way you should've been in control of a vehicle'. Stubbs was 'highly embarrassed' having never faced a court before and she was 'shaking like a leaf' the morning of the April 13 sentencing hearing Magistrate O'Neill also said the offending was 'all the more bewildering' because Stubbs had trained and worked as a nurse. Stubbs, who was fined $1,400 and had her licence disqualified for 11 months, escaped a conviction. However, Stubbs will be subject to a mandatory vehicle interlock program for a minimum of 12 months after her disqualification ends. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.