A number of drink driving matters were dealt with by Magistrate Holmes in Walcha Local Court last month.
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Darrell James Brazel a 58 - year-old Walcha man pled guilty to driving with a mid-range level of alcohol in his system on March 9. No conviction was recorded, and Magistrate Holmes issued a two-year good behaviour bond.
"You can retain your driving license, but you've got a big axe hanging over your head for the next two years," Mr Holmes said. "Don't drink and drive again."
Walcha resident David Anthony O'Shannessy pled guilty to driving with a low range of prescribed alcohol in his system on Saturday, February 17.
The 46-year-old was pulled over on North Street at approximately 1.50pm for a random breath test which returned a positive result of 0.069.
Magistrate Holmes said O'Shannessy had an 'appalling record ' for driving offences - this was his second major offence in the past five years.
He disqualified O'Shannessy from driving for one month, fined him $600 and ordered him to install an interlocking device in his vehicle for 12 months.
Don't drink and drive again
- Magistrate Michael Holmes
Nicole Louise Jarman, a 47-year-old Walcha mother of four, pled guilty to driving with a high range of alcohol in her bloodstream while on a good behaviour bond.
On Tuesday, November 28 last year at about 9 pm, Jarman drove her car along Apsley Street and collided with a large tree near the intersection of Thee Street. The force of the impact caused extensive damage to her car, and she had to be assisted out of the vehicle by ambulance officers.
At Walcha Hospital, a blood test was conducted, which subsequently showed a reading of 0.207. Jarman was then taken to Tamworth Hospital and hospitalised for four days and treated for a fractured left foot and fibula, lacerations to both knees, a laceration to her right elbow and facial bruising - she was unable to walk unassisted for three months, and her car was a write-off.
When police interviewed her on Tuesday, January 15 Jarman said she had no memory of the incident but did admit to drinking one and a half bottles of red wine before the crash and was not surprised at the high reading.
Magistrate Holmes said it was a serious matter and fined her $2,000, sentenced her to a two-year community correction order and disqualified her from driving for three years.
He revoked the Section 9 Bonds for Jarman's previous offences of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sentenced her to three two-year community correction orders to be served concurrently.