A Goulburn man had his licence disqualified after a celebratory morning alcoholic drink lead to drink driving.
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Dean Bryan Meade, 44, of Yarralow Street, pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-driving.
Goulburn Local Court heard on July 22 that Meade returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.099 when police pulled him over for a Random Breath Test in April.
The court heard that Meade started drinking alcohol at his home from 10am on April 15 and drove to Bradfordville shops later that afternoon. While taking a "non-direct route" home he was pulled over for a Random Breath Test at around 4pm.
Solicitor Tim McGrath told the court his client experienced mental health issues and had a dependency on alcohol.
He said the mental health problems started when Meade was "assaulted with a smashed glass in a drinking establishment."
Mr McGrath said his client experienced PTSD and had clear evidence of alcohol dependency.
Meade had an unblemished criminal record until the age of 36 when the incident occurred. Mr McGrath said this was a "trigger for his mental health".
While this was Meade's first offence in NSW, he has previous offences in Victoria. The court heard that Meade had his Victorian licence disqualified for a PCA offence 10 years ago. He was later charged with driving while disqualified.
Meade was issued a NSW driver's licence in 2018.
Mr McGrath said his client had a blood disorder that required weekly transfusions and had gotten good news that morning. He said Meade had started drinking to celebrate.
He said his client was very remorseful and "on this occasion it was just foolishness".
Mr McGrath said his client's parents were currently driving him to and from Canberra for employment and this often involved a 5:45am start.
He said Meade was currently on medication, was part of an online support group for recovering alcoholics and had his parent's support.
The solicitor said the loss of license and accompanying Community Correction Order had reinforced Meade's "need to be vigilant with drink-driving."
He said his client had learnt the "ripple effect on all persons in the community and the direct impact on his parents."
During sentencing Magistrate Geraldine Beattie took Meade's strong support network and early guilty plea into account.
She said Meade was twice the legal limit to be driving.
"Fortunately police stopped you before you had an accident," Magistrate Beattie said.
She said drink driving was very serious and there was a "strong need to stop people from committing this offence".
"This community needs protecting from you," Magistrate Beattie said.
She told Meade to "keep treatment going and stay away from alcohol - the community needs you to do that."
Meade received a $900 fine, a nine-month community correction order and a four-month disqualification period which started from April 15.
