Adelaide talkback king Jeremy Cordeaux fined over drink-driving at Norwood
ONE of Adelaide’s talkback radio legends has been convicted in his absence of drink-driving, with a blood alcohol reading of more than twice the legal limit.
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TALKBACK radio legend Jeremy Cordeaux has been convicted in his absence of drink-driving with a blood alcohol reading of more than twice the legal limit.
Cordeaux, who calls his show “the court of public opinion”, did not personally attend the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday for his hearing.
He told The Advertiser he was unaware of the hearing until alerted by friends in the media, and so was unable to make it to the city by 2.15pm.
“Somebody should have told me — I’m not supposed to just know by osmosis,” he said by phone following the hearing.
“Nobody told me, and you’d expect somebody (from SA Police) to talk to me about it.
“But to put it simply: I did the crime, I have done the time and that’s it — I’ve not argued it, I’ve simply said that I will wear it.”
Through his counsel, Cordeaux, 71, of Glen Osmond, pleaded guilty to one count of driving with excess blood alcohol.
Police had alleged he breath tested at Norwood on December 15 last year and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.102.
He was issued with an immediate six-month loss of licence but his car was not impounded.
The incident occurred as Cordeaux and his wife left a Christmas Party held by real estate agency Toop & Toop.
It followed a tumultuous time for both Cordeaux and FIVEaa.
On December 2, Cordeaux announced he would be leaving the station because it wanted him to move out of the afternoon timeslot to a different shift.
He said he would not take another broadcaster’s job because “I’ve had that done to me and I really didn’t like it,” describing his refusal as “a matter of principle”.
Six days later, the station announced Cordeaux would stay on the air and take over the 8pm to midnight shift from Alan Hickey, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
On Tuesday, Cordeaux’s counsel told the court their client admitted the offence and asked if the matter could be finalised without a conviction being recorded.
Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis said that was “not going to happen”.
“He can’t not turn up, send a lawyer and ask for no conviction,” she said.
“I’m not trying to be difficult, and I’m happy to hear the matter in his absence, but it’s not usual for a matter of drink driving to be resolved without a conviction.
“There would have to be good reasons given, and he’s not here to tell me about it.”
Ms Panagiotidis recorded a conviction, fined Cordeaux $950 and ordered he pay an additional $520 in court costs and levies.
She also disqualified him from driving for a further 21 days.
Speaking to The Advertiser, Cordeaux said his wife had driven to the Christmas party but was unable to drive home.
“I decided I would do the chivalrous thing, and that was a very bad thing to have done,” he said.
“I’ve always said I’d like to be chivalrous to the end, and that was indeed the case.”
He said he was remorseful for his poor decision and praised the vigilance of police officers who monitor for drink-drivers.
“I’m a strict advocate for strong law enforcement — always have been, always will be — whether it be to my detriment, my advantage or my protection,” he said.
