Alexander Gabriel Bel-Saunders pleads guilty to drink-driving in Byron Bay

A boozed-up chef who admitted he drove after drinking “semi-regularly” could have “plunged into any of the Beach Hotel patrons” at Byron Bay when he was caught almost four times the limit.

Alexander Bel-Saunders was convicted at Byron Bay Local Court for high-range drive driving at Byron Bay on November 4, 2022. Picture: Savannah Pocock

A high-range drink-driver tried to cheat the system after police saw him accelerate dangerously close to hotel patrons while he was almost four times the legal limit, according to court documents

The Gold Coast bloke — who told police he could not believe he had been caught drunk behind the wheel in Byron Bay — tried to delay being breathalysed using techniques that would provide invalid test readings from not blowing hard enough to sticking his tongue in the testing device tube.

It took a chef almost 10 attempts to blow a valid reading on a breath test after numerous methods to delay the result.

Alexander Gabriel Bel-Saunders pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to driving with a high-range alcohol reading of 0.178.

Police say they were in an unmarked Toyota Prado parked on Jonson St when they saw the Queensland chef, 26, accelerate dangerously near a crowd of patrons outside the Beach Hotel at Byron Bay about 11.50pm on November 4.

The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay 2022. Picture: Google Maps

Officers pulled over Bel-Saunders’ Toyota Hiace van near Apex Park, with court documents detailing how the driver made “no attempt to wind down his window to talk to police or follow simple and clear instructions”.

“He smelt strongly of liquor and spoke slowly,” police state.

Police documents say the Tallebudgera Valley man claimed he only had two drinks but “it quickly became evident he was well-affected by intoxicating liquor”.

When Bel-Saunders completed a breath test, he returned an invalid reading so police explained to him how he was supposed to breathe into the device.

Police breath test. Picture: File

However, police say he continued to provide invalid test readings “using a number of methods to block the device in a clear attempt to make the tests invalid”.

“He stuck his tongue in the tube, placed the tube on his teeth, put the tube in his mouth but didn’t breathe out and finally inserted the tube into his mouth and forced a large amount of air at once,” police state.

“It took nine attempts before a reading of 0.178 was obtained.”

Bel-Saunders was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station where he was warned it was his last chance to provide a valid sample as police believed he was trying to delay the test to reduce the reading for the court.

After finally producing a valid reading, he admitted to police that he drives after drinking “semi-regularly”.

Bel-Saunders told police he had countless drinks, of different varieties, at Brunswick Heads Hotel earlier in the night.

Byron Bay beach car park, near Apex Park. Picture: Google Maps

“I just can‘t believe Byron Bay is where I come to get caught drink driving for the first time,” Bel-Saunders told police.

He has not completed the traffic offenders program.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said Bel-Saunders could have “plunged into any of the Beach Hotel patrons”.

Ms Stafford convicted Bel-Saunders and fined him $1200.

He must complete a community corrections order for nine months.

He has been disqualified from driving for six months and must use an interlock device for two years when he gets his licence back.