A MAN who drove his car into a garage door after drinking beer has been disqualified from driving and fined for damaging property.
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Gregory James Fitzgerald, 36 of West Street, Bathurst appeared before magistrate Michael Allen charged with high-range PCA and destroying and/or damaging property.
While Fitzgerald's solicitor said his client pleaded guilty to the charges, he disputed the police facts which had been tendered to the court.
The police facts said that on July 6 this year, Fitzgerald got out of bed at around 1.30pm, had a coffee and then began drinking cans of VB.
He drank throughout the afternoon until he ran out of alcohol and left the location in a vehicle.
He returned with a bottle of bourbon and, during a conversation with a woman at the house, became aggressive and threw furniture around the backyard. The woman instructed Fitzgerald to stop or she would call the police.
Fitzgerald then began yelling and swearing at the victim and the police were called.
Fitzgerald then went inside and grabbed his car keys. He lashed out at the garage door, punching it a couple of times.
He then walked towards his car and the woman heard a noise which sounded like a burnout. Police allege Fitzgerald drove into the roller door.
When police arrived they found Fitzgerald sitting in his stationary vehicle in the middle of the roadway with the engine running.
Fitzgerald refused to get out of the car but police could see he was heavily intoxicated. Police also noted significant damage to the garage's roller door and skid marks on the driveway.
Fitzgerald declined to do a roadside breath test and was taken to Bathurst police station where a breath analysis recorded a reading of 0.270.
On the high-range PCA charge, Mr Allen convicted Fitzgerald, disqualifying him from driving for a period of 18 months. He was also placed on a Section 9 bond for a period of 12 months.
On the destroying or damaging property matter, Fitzgerald was convicted and fined $400.