Kobey Danny Chapman, of Golf Links Drive, pleaded guilty to driving with a high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, being a learner not accompanied by a driver, not displaying L-plates, driving an unregistered motor vehicle on the road and using an uninsured motor vehicle.

Police facts state that police officers observed Chapman’s Toyota Corolla leaving the Catalina Country Club car park west into Golf Links Drive at 11.30pm on December 24 last year.

When they went to look for the car, they saw that it had turned right into a vacant block on Golf Links Drive.

When they reached the car, they noticed a strong smell of liquor coming from it.

They asked Chapman if he had been drinking alcohol, and he replied “I won’t lie to you, I’ve had heaps”.

A breath test was positive and he was arrested and taken to Batemans Bay Police Station.

A breath analysis returned a reading of 0.162, and a licence check revealed he held a learner’s licence. Chapman had one passenger in the car with him at the time, who had never held a driver’s licence.

He said he had consumed three or four cans of bourbon and cola.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said Chapman’s actions were a “recipe for disaster”.

“It is lucky that you were pulled over,” she said.

For the PCA offence Chapman was given 225 hours of community service, and advised by the magistrate to do it as soon as possible, and a two-year driving disqualification.

He was convicted on all charges and fined a total of $1300.