A NSW police officer has been convicted in Goulburn Local Court of mid-range drink-driving.
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Senior Constable Matthew John Monley, 42, from Bonner ACT pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-driving when he appeared in court on August 30.
Police facts tendered in court said at 11.45pm on August 6 they were monitoring traffic northbound on the Hume Highway at Yarra, near Goulburn when they observed a Holden Commodore driven by Monley pull into a rest area at the intersection of the highway and the old South Road.
Police followed the car into the rest area and gave a roadside breath test to Monley, which proved positive. He was arrested and taken to Goulburn Police Station where a further breath test recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.091.
In court, Monley's solicitor said his client was remorseful and that this was an “enormous fall from grace" for him.
“He is a firearms instructor who trains other police. He has a long career in the police force and he is one of the good guys,” the solicitor said.
“He is also facing an internal disciplinary process."
Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman acknowledged Constable Monley's good character, but said a message needed to be sent to the community about drink-driving.
“It is a double-edged sword because you see the dangers of drink-driving,” Ms Huntsman said.
“I have seen many otherwise upstanding members of the community come before court for this offence.”
She convicted Monley and fined him $900 and disqualified from driving for six months.