DRIVING through a red light in front of police has resulted in a drink-driver being taken off the road for three months.
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Benjamin Hamilton, 28, of Clairvaux Lane in Kelso, was caught by police on April 5, 2025 after leaving a Kelso hotel and then running a red light on Sydney Road, Kelso.
A subsequent roadside breath test returned a positive alcohol reading in the mid range.
'I got caught and I have to face the consequences'
In Bathurst Local Court on May 7, 2025 to answer the charge, Hamilton told magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith it was "a silly mistake".
Hamilton, who appeared in person and unrepresented entered a plea of guilty at the first opportunity, telling the court he wanted to proceed to sentencing that day.
When asked what he wished to say about the incident, he told Ms Slack-Smith he regretted his actions.
"I got caught and I have to face the consequences," Hamilton said.
"I regret what I did."
Police prosecutor Sergeant Cooper told the court Hamilton came to the notice of police by running a red light.
"That reading of alcohol put the community at risk," she said.
What the police allege
Police were at the traffic lights at the intersection of Boyd Street and Sydney Road when they saw a grey Hyundai exit the Kelso Hotel. The accused drove across the intersection while all lights displayed red and entered the Kelso 7-Eleven, stopping at the fuel bowser.
Police pulled up behind his car and spoke to him after identifying themselves.
Hamilton told police he had three beers before leaving the hotel. A roadside breath test produced a positive result and back at Bathurst Police Station, he recorded a reading of 0.082.
Hamilton told the police he had three schooners of beer between 6pm and 8pm and had not eaten that day.
The sentence
Ms Slack-Smith noted his plea of guilt and the fact he had nothing else on his record and was otherwise of good character.
She said his driving record wasn't the worst she'd seen.
Having regard for his early plea of guilt and good prospects of rehabilitation, she convicted Hamilton, fined him $800 and disqualified him from driving for three months from the day of the offence, April 5, 2025.
He is disqualified from driving until July 4, 2025.
He is also subject to an interlock order for 12 months.
