Sahil Kumar Singh sentenced for drink driving with cocaine in his system at Ballina on New Year’s Day

A magistrate told a North Coast driver busted drink driving in a packed Mercedes Benz with cocaine in his system that she needed to “protect the community” from him.

Sahil Kumar Singh has been sentenced for drink driving with cocaine in his system.

A Ballina man has been sentenced for drink driving with cocaine in his system and four passengers in his Mercedes Benz on New Year’s Day.

Sahil Kumar Singh, 25, faced Ballina Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving and driving with cocaine in his body.

Singh was driving the car on Tamar St in Ballina about 1am on January 1 when he was pulled over for a random breath test.

He recorded a positive blood-alcohol reading and was also subjected to a drug swab test, which came back positive for cocaine, court documents state.

Sahil Kumar Singh outside Ballina Courthouse.

Police described Singh as sluggish and slurring his words, with bloodshot eyes.

Singh told officers he downed two shots of tequila without eating anything.

He was taken to Ballina Police Station and returned a follow-up middle-range blood alcohol reading of 0.124, more than two times the legal limit.

Defence lawyer Vincent James Boss told the court Singh had completed a traffic offenders program and booked an appointment to see a psychologist.

Singh had cocaine in his system.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said Singh’s driving history was concerning and she mentioned three speeding offences which resulted in demerit points.

“With a record there’s a need for the courts to protect the community and stop him from reoffending,” she said.

Ms Stafford sentenced Singh to a 12-month community corrections order and he was fined $1200.

Singh’s drivers licence was suspended for three months.

He will have to use an alcohol interlock device for a year once he’s allowed back on the road.