A MAN caught driving after having 10 drinks has been convicted, fined and put off the road after appearing before Magistrate Ryan in Bathurst Local Court.
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Jason Noel McDermott, 39, of Spicer Place in Oberon, appeared before Bathurst Local Court on May 28 after being charged with high-range PCA.
Police facts tendered to the court told how the accused was pulled over by police in Howick Street, Bathurst at 10.35pm on March 17.
Police said they were undertaking a general patrol of George Street when they saw a Suzuki sedan, being driven by the accused, leaving the Kings Hotel.
Police said they were behind the vehicle and noticed its lights weren't on and the driver had failed to signal right when turning on the Howick Street roundabout.
The car was stopped for the purpose of a random breath test and police approached McDermott and asked him if he had consumed any alcohol.
According to the police facts, the accused told police he had drunk a "gut-load", with his last drink being about 30 minutes prior.
A roadside breath test returned a positive result and McDermott was arrested for the purpose of a breath analysis at Bathurst Police Station.
The subsequent breath analysis recorded 0.174, placing him in the high range category.
In relation to his drinking, police facts said the accused told police he consumed 10 alcoholic drinks of beer and Wild Turkey, consuming his first at 2pm on Saturday, March 17 and the last at 10pm on Saturday, March 17.
He had nothing to eat during this time.
References tendered to the court told how the accused required his licence for work, and felt his behaviour on the night in question was out of character.
The court heard the accused had completed the Traffic Offenders Program.
Magistrate Ryan convicted McDermott, fining him $500, disqualifying him from driving for six months and placing him on a Section 9 bond for 12 months.
He was also placed on a mandatory interlock order for 24 months.
