FIVE schooners of beer ensured an appearance before Batemans Bay Local Court on September 8 for Neil Patchett.
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A resident of Boomerang Beach, Mr Patchett, 55, was stopped by police officers for a random breath test at 6.35pm on July 26.
He told them he had consumed a schooner of beer so, after a 10-minute rest period, to ensure there was no residual alcohol in his mouth, he was breath-tested, which gave a positive reading.
Arrested and taken to Batemans Bay Police Station, he recorded a low-range reading of 0.054 grams.
He then told police he had consumed five schooners of New beer over a couple of hours and that he had not eaten.
The defendant pleaded guilty to driving with a low-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, and told the court he needed his licence to visit his family in Boomerang Beach.
Magistrate Doug Dick told Mr Patchett, who works as the manager of the Canberra Club in the ACT, that his driving record over the past 38 years was “excellent”.
“I am satisfied you are unlikely to re-offend,” Mr Dick said.
After taking in account Mr Patchett’s attendance at the Serious Traffic Offenders Program, he conditionally discharged the defendant on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
