Nathan William Mann in court for drink driving

A heavy machinery operator blew 0.099 when he was stopped by police at Victory Heights after a couple of beers with a mate.

Nathan William Mann was fined $450 and disqualified for two months from driving after pleading guilty to drink driving.

A heavy machinery operator who got behind the wheel after having two beers with a mate was disqualified from driving for two months and fined $450 by a Gympie court on Thursday.

Nathan William Mann, 48, of Veteran, pleaded guilty and was convicted of drink driving when he faced the Gympie Magistrates Court.

The court heard he was stopped by police for a routine breath test on Gympie Connection Road at Victory Heights at 6pm on January 26.

With a blood alcohol reading of 0.099, Mann was “as close as you can get” to the middle alcohol limit without passing it, police prosecutor Christie Mahoney said.

After drinking two beers at his friend’s house in one hour and without eating since the morning, Mann did not expect to be over the legal limit to drive, the court heard.

Mann told the court he was “embarrassed” by his behaviour.

“If you’re not sure, don’t get behind the wheel,” magistrate Bevan Hughes told him.

“You have a family that loves you. They don’t need to lose you,” he said.

“It only takes one lapse to have tragic and irreversible consequences.”

Nathan William Mann told the court he was “embarrassed by his behaviour” after getting caught drink driving.

As driving heavy vehicles is a key part of his role, he was granted permission to apply for a restricted driving licence for this period as to not disrupt his ability to work.

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