A MAN who admitted to Bathurst Local Court his decision to drink drive "could have been deadly" has been put off the road for three months, fined $800 and placed on an interlock order for 12 months.
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Benjamin John Gracey, 43, of Phillip Street, Goonellabah, near Lismore, was charged with mid-range PCA in Bathurst on December 14 last year.
Gracey appeared in person and unrepresented before magistrate Catherine Follent in Bathurst Local Court.
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Police facts tendered to the court told how Gracey was stopped by police in Russell Street for a breath test.
He produced a Queensland driver's licence and, when he was asked if he had consumed any alcohol prior to driving, he said he had had "about six or seven" and that he would "go over", according to the police facts.
He recorded 0.120.
Gracey told police he had three 1.25-litre bottles of Little Fat Lamb cider between 10am and 8.20pm before driving, and no food.
Police said Gracey's eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred and his movement were slow.
In court, Gracey told Ms Follent he had thought "a lot about the circumstances" which led to his offending behaviour, but all "just sounded like excuses".
He said he had a pretty tough time in the lead-up to Christmas with family issues.
"I made a mistake, but it could have been a deadly mistake," he said.
Ms Follent said she could see Gracey's remorse, but said the offence was above the mid point range of seriousness.
"You were well aware you would record a reading above the legal threshold," she said.
She said she stood between Gracey and the community, and the real risk drink drivers pose.
