A DRUNK driver stopped by police has been told he should have thanked officers for saving his life and those around him.
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Darren Robert Draper, 51, of Seymour Street in Bathurst, appeared before Bathurst Local Court charged with high-range PCA (0.180) and failing to stop.
His solicitor Shane Cunningham said his client's offending conduct was aggravated by the fact he was on a Community Corrections Order (CCO) at the time.
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Mr Cunningham made submissions on the breach before addressing the fresh charges.
Mr Cunningham said Draper has a farm on Hereford Street and said his client stopped in the lane near his property so his dogs, which were in the vehicle, could make their way home.
Mr Cunningham said his client's record reflects a man who has an issue with alcohol, but said there had been a period of 14 years with no offending conduct.
In sentencing, magistrate Kevin Hockey told the accused he "hoped he went back to the police station the next day, to thank them for saving his life, and that of others around him".
"Your reading was a recipe for disaster. Had you hit someone or killed someone you wouldn't be sitting in front of me, you'd be before a judge in the district court finding out how long you're going to jail for.
"It's as simple as that."
Police facts told how police were performing random breath testing on Hereford Street on September 14 last year when Draper drove his Magna towards the RBT site with no headlights on.
Police were holding a sign in front of the accused's vehicle, indicating for Draper, who was 100 metres away, to pull into the RBT site, but he continued along Hereford Street, before turning into Edgell Lane and stopping.
On the fail to stop charge, Mr Hockey accepted Draper was trying to get the dogs home, and dealt with the matter by way of a conviction with no further penalty.
On the high range PCA charge, Draper was convicted, placed on an 18-month CCO and fined $2000. HIs licence was disqualified for nine months, with a 24-month interlock order. No action was taken on the CCO breach.