Sarina man busted behind wheel after drinking 12 stubbies

He was drinking with friends all day before driving 20km.

COURT: Sarina man drove from Mackay Harbour to Bakers Creek while almost four and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.

A MAGISTRATE has issued a grim warning for a Sarina man who drove from Mackay Harbour to Bakers Creek while almost four and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.

Ryan Sammual White, 21, pleaded guilty in Sarina Magistrates Court on Monday to high-range drink-driving while on probation and community service.

About 10.10pm on January 31, police stopped White on the Bruce Highway at Bakers Creek for a random breath test.

Police prosecutor Chelsea Pearson told the court police had observed White’s speech was slurred, eyes glazed and there was a strong smell of liquor on his breath.

“He submitted to a roadside breath test and as a result, was taken to Mackay police station for a further test,” Ms Pearson said.

“When questioned, he stated he had consumed about 12 stubbies of full strength beers since 10am that morning.”

The test returned a reading of 0.221 per cent.

His legal representative said White had been drinking and fishing with friends since 10am that day.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan noted although White had no traffic history, his criminal history was “made up entirely of alcohol-related charges”.

“ … There are a number of people on the Bruce Highway at 10pm who are either working or doing long distance travel and unfortunately, people like you kill those people,” she said.

“You could have killed someone innocent.”

Magistrate Hartigan took into account White’s guilty plea and criminal record when she handed down a $2000 fine and 18-month driving disqualification.

The conviction was recorded.

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