Stevan James Atkinson fined $1500 for drink driving

A man was so heavily intoxicated when he crashed through a fence on Hill St that he was unable to pronounce his name or address, when questioned by the arresting officers.

WHEN police were called to a crash on Hill St they arrived to find a car lodged in a fence and a driver so drunk that could he barely speak.

The driver, Stevan James Atkinson, 37, faced the Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday to plead guilty to one count of drink driving.

Police prosecutor Narelle Lowe said witnesses to the crash saw Atkinson exit his vehicle and walk home, a distance of about 200m, about 11.30pm on October 31.

He wandered for a short time before he was brought back the crash site to talk with the police officers.

“(Atkinson) was standing next to the vehicle, struggling to stand up,” Ms Lowe said.

“When questioned (Atkinson) was incoherent and had difficulty stating his name and address.”

A roadside breath test returned a positive reading of 0.250 per cent, leading police to arrest Atkinson and take him to the watch house.

Atkinson’s solicitor Nick Smith, told the court his client had made an unplanned stop at a nearby pub after work and had lost track of the number of drinks he consumed, as evidenced by his takeaway dinner that had cooled in the car while he was in the hotel.

“My client is extremely remorseful and offered to repair the fence,” he said.

Magistrate Graham Lee noted Atkinson’s limited criminal history and early plea.

He issued a $1500 fine, suspended Atkinson’s driver’s licence for 14 months and recorded the conviction.

Originally published as Stevan James Atkinson fined $1500 for drink driving