North Coast man Joel Mark Anthony Stocks, 22, was driving from Byron to Lismore when he was caught drink-driving

The man’s lawyer asked for the court to consider sparing him a conviction, but the magistrate said too many people were guilty of crimes that put others at risk on local roads.

Joel Mark Anthony Stocks, 22, has been convicted of mid range drink-driving. He face Byron Bay Local Court on Monday, May 31. Picture: Facebook

Having no criminal history doesn’t absolve you of the consequences of drink-driving, a court has heard.

Byron Bay Local Court magistrate Karen Stafford has told a young North Coast man with no prior offences he would have to bear a conviction.

Joel Mark Anthony Stocks, 22, who is from South West Rocks but living in East Lismore and working in Byron Bay, pleaded guilty to a charge of mid range drink-driving when he faced court on Monday.

He returned a breath analysis reading of 0.108 after he was stopped by police on Byron Street in Bangalow about 11.50pm on May 1 this year.

Defence lawyer Crystal Triggs told the court Stocks was not pulled over due to his manner of driving; rather, it was a random breath test.

She said her client was “a man of good character” with “no criminal history”.

Ms Triggs said Stocks had “found it very difficult to get housing in Byron Bay” while he was studying and working in the area, so he was living in East Lismore.

The court heard he had left one of his two jobs since his licence was suspended while family were driving him to another job as an educational support officer.

Ms Triggs said if her client lost his licence for a lengthy period, his only option would be to live in a Byron Bay caravan park and to move his studies online.

“He’s remorseful for his offending behaviour,” she said.

She said reference letters established Stocks as “a man of good character” who was “contributing to the community”.

“He has demonstrated the depth of the impact created by his actions has really come home to him,” she said.

Ms Stafford acknowledged Stocks’ insight into his crime and his remorse, but rejected a defence request to spare him a conviction.

“People’s otherwise good character and their age is substantially outweighed by the risk to the community of people who drink and drive,” Ms Stafford said.

She said young men were “over-represented” among those who die in crashes.

“It’s completely preventable,” she said.

“I appreciate it means a conviction, but of course it was your own actions that led you here.

“It’s criminal offending, it’s been (a) criminal offence for decades and decades.”

Ms Stafford convicted Stocks and fined him $500.

He will be disqualified from driving until July 31 and will then need to use an interlock device for a year.