Drinking Session Ends High And Dry

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday August 19, 2008

GR

A MAN who was slumped over the wheel and stopped on a median strip when police found him in his car was sentenced to community service work for drink-driving yesterday.

Bradley Michael Quill's solicitor, Kristy Wade, acknowledged it was a "disastrous set of [police] facts" and said her client had no excuse for driving in that state.

But she said the 31-year-old, of Hall Street, Merewether, had not drunk since the incident and planned to seek further help for alcohol abuse.

A police statement before Newcastle Local Court said that about 3.30am on June 1 officers responded to a call from a person who had found Quill slumped at the wheel of his car near Railway and Station streets, Wickham.

When police arrived they found the car on the median strip at Hannell Street. Its headlights were on, its engine was running and it appeared to be moving back and forward as though stuck.

Quill had a blood alcohol reading of 0.215, more than four times the legal limit. He told police he had drunk 12 beers.

Magistrate Michael Morahan noted it was Quill's second high-range offence in three years.

He sentenced him to 30 hours' community service and disqualified him from driving for two years.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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