Matthew Scott Farmer, 32, of Endurance Court in Bathurst, appeared before magistrate Michael Allen charged with mid range PCA. He appeared in person and unrepresented.

The court heard at 5.20pm on April 12, Farmer was driving a silver Commodore on Peel Street when he was pulled over for a random breath test.

Police said they could smell intoxicating liquor coming from the vehicle, and asked Farmer if he had been drinking. He replied: “Yep.”

Farmer told police he had consumed “three or four beers” before receiving a call from his partner saying she had to work late and he would need to pick up his child from the childcare centre on Stanley Street.

A breath test returned a positive result and Farmer was taken to Bathurst police station where he recorded a breath analysis reading of  0.111.

He told officers he’d consumed four  375ml stubbies of beer between 4.20pm and 5pm.

Farmer was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for six months.