Driver busted almost six times over the limit

A Brisbane man who drove with an alcohol reading almost six times the legal limit has apologised for his stupidity.

An Aspley man was sentenced today for driving while under the influence of liquor.

A MAN who drove with an alcohol reading almost six times the legal limit said he spent the past week making himself sick thinking about how he could have hurt someone.

Damien John Linnane, 39, of Aspley, pleaded guilty today to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.29 per cent on Beams Rd, Carseldine on April 30.

He told Sandgate Magistrates Court via phone that he apologised for his “stupidity” to the officers who pulled him over for a roadside breath test about 7.10pm that night.

Sandgate Courthouse. Picture: Michelle Smith

“To be honest I rarely drink,” he told the court.

“The three officers that saw me that night, I apologised to them because I know there’s better things for them to do than look after my stupidity.

“This is an isolated thing. I’ve spent the last week every night making myself sick thinking about how I could have gone out and hurt someone else and that really hurts me. It’s a one off.”

Magistrate Jennifer Batts told Linnane it was “a very high reading”.

“I agree and when I heard it I couldn’t believe it,” Linnane replied.

“It was so stupid. I just can’t believe it.”

The police prosecutor said Linnane told police he was returning home after drinking at a friend’s house.

“The defendant stated that he drank beer and wine a few hours prior to driving,” the prosecutor said.

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Linnane also pleaded guilty to a further three charges – driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and driving a vehicle with cancelled number plates.

The magistrate told Linnane she took notice of his remorse “and obviously you have some insight into these matters and the potential for what could have been”.

She fined him $1400 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months on the drink-driving charge.

Linnane was also fined $300 for driving an unregistered vehicle, $400 for driving an uninsured vehicle, and was convicted with no further punishment for having cancelled plates.

He was given two months to pay the fines.