A 62-year-old Tuross Head man who reportedly drove more than 240 kilometers between Sydney and Lake Tabourie while triple the legal alcohol limit has blamed a “lack of self discipline” for his decision to get behind the wheel.
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Shortly before 6pm on Monday, November 21 police received a phone call that a vehicle was traveling through Lake Tabourie towards Batemans Bay, driving dangerously and overtaking on double lines.
Police were traveling north and saw a vehicle matching the description stopped on the side of the road. They parked behind the vehicle and approached the car where they found Phillip Victor Martin talking on his mobile phone.
Police spoke to Martin and noticed he smelt of alcohol. They asked if he had been drinking and he said he had "a few drinks" at The Lord Nelson Brewery at The Rocks in Sydney around midday before driving to where he was parked.
Police conducted a road side breath test which was positive.
Martin was then taken to Ulladulla Police Station where he was found to have a blood alcohol reading of 0.160, well above the legal limit of 0.050.
This is the second high-range drink driving offence for the semi-retired artist and Magistrate Gabriel Fleming found there was no alternative for Martin than a jail term.
A character reference letter tended to the court from Martin’s friend said he felt like a “bloody idiot” for being “not once, but twice, done for DUI”.
Magistrate Fleming sentenced Martin in Milton Local Court to nine months jail with a non-parole period of three months.
He will be eligible for parole on April 11.