Father of three risks ‘never-ending pain’ driving family on highway while more than five times limit

A father risked ‘never-ending pain’ drink-driving on the Bruce Highway while more than five times the limit.

A high-range drink driver has faced up to his mistake.

A FATHER of three who drove with his family in the vehicle while more than five times the limit has rued not listening to his wife.

Appearing at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on January 9 Jayarajan Jacob, 47, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.

MORE:

Strathpine man breaks into four businesses in one night after mixing with ‘wrong crowd’

The court heard Jacob’s erratic driving caught the attention of police on the Bruce Highway at Murrumba Downs at 10.30pm on November 24 last year.

“His vehicle was moving from one lane to the other, continuously braking and blocking other vehicles,” police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Bryce said.

Sgt Bryce said Jacob was initially belligerent with police and refused a roadside test.

Tests would later confirm he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.265 per cent.

Jacob’s defence solicitor Siobhan French told the court her client, who had no like traffic history, had drunk more than he intended to at a party and ignored important advice while trying to settle his toddler at their vehicle.

“Unfortunately he has sat in the driver’s seat and he has made the very bad decision to start that car and drive,” Ms French said.

“Unfortunately he did not listen to his wife who told him to pull over and let her drive and hence the reason he has come to the attention of the police.”

The court heard Jacob had completed a Queensland Traffic Offenders Program, would lose his employment as a delivery driver and was deeply remorseful of his actions.

“If a person was a victim of his behaviour it could have led to never-ending pain for his family and also other families on the road,” Ms French shared from a prepared statement by Jacob.

Full Digital Access: 50% off for the first 12 weeks (conditions apply)

Jacob also provided a reference letter from a friend.

Magistrate Melanie Ho offset the gravity of Jacob’s offending with his clean track record.

“What is particularly admirable is that this was a serious mistake, but a mistake against a backdrop of a very good traffic history,” Ms Ho said.

Jacob was fined $1,300 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

The magistrate warned Jacob that two high-range drink drive offences within five years would attract a mandatory prison sentence.