‘Devastating life events’ led to SA horse trainer Ryan Balfour to drink and drive and pass out in his car, court told
A well-known SA horse trainer has been fined for driving drunk – again – this time at five times the legal limit.
A prominent South Australian horse trainer was suffering “devastating life events” – including the loss of the family racing business – before he drove so drunk he fell unconscious, a court has heard.
Ryan William Balfour, 45, was sentenced for two driving offences at the Adelaide Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
A lawyer for Balfour said his client went through a period of poor decision-making after suffering from extremely poor mental health “effectively caused by a series of devastating life events”, particularly was the loss of his family business.
“Unfortunately … Mr Balfour turned to alcohol to self medicate,” he said.
“Following from that, there was clearly a period of poor decision-making from Mr Balfour … leading to a decision to get behind the wheel after an argument with his partner.
“Notwithstanding that, he realised almost immediately that he had made a stupid decision and pulled over.”
Balfour was nearly five times the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the offending, which occurred at Park Holme on July 20.
The court heard he was found unconscious by ambulance services in his stationary car on the side of the road after pulling over, and police were alerted.
Magistrate Louise Kleinig said it was fortunate no one was hurt and Balfour had enough “good sense” to pull over before he became unconscious.
The 45-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to driving with an excess of blood alcohol and driving a motor vehicle while he was not authorised to do so after an earlier serious drink driving disqualification.
He is the son of late racing identity David Balfour, who died in 2014 after a long battle with illness.
After his father’s death, Balfour took over the racehorse training business but would come to rely on his mother for performance of administrative and financial duties at a time when her own cognitive state was declining – which meant many administrative and financial responsibilities weren’t attended to, the court heard.
It was also heard Balfour suffered stress over a “poor relationship” with his brother.
A lawyer for Balfour said a report showed his client has a serious underlying alcohol disorder but his risk of reoffending was low and it recommended a community-based sentence.
Prosecution said a fine should be imposed and they would not be opposed to a good behaviour bond with community service.
Ms Kleinig said she took his guilty plea and personal circumstances into account.
Balfour was sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour bond, disqualified from holding a licence for three and a half years, fined $2000 plus court costs and ordered to do 100 hours of community service.
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Originally published as ‘Devastating life events’ led to SA horse trainer Ryan Balfour to drink and drive and pass out in his car, court told
