Former The Secret Garden club owner Jack Thomas Neate from Byron Bay sentenced for repeat drink driving
The former owner of a Byron Bay live music hotspot has been caught drunk behind the wheel in the popular tourist hub – and a court has heard it’s not the first time.
Police & Courts
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The ex-owner of The Secret Garden live music venue at Byron Bay has been caught drunk behind the wheel in the popular tourist hub – and a court has heard it’s not the first time.
Jack Thomas Neate fronted Byron Bay Local Court and admitted to getting behind the wheel intoxicated. The 39-year-old Byron man pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range reading
Documents tendered to court earlier this month state Neate was driving a Toyota LandCruiser four-wheel drive along Old Bangalow Rd about 11.15pm on July 11.
The former venue owner was pulled over for a random breath test and returned a positive reading of 0.094, almost double the legal limit.
Neate said he was driving because he could not find an Uber or taxi, according to the documents.
The businessman-turned-builder was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station, where he told officers he had five glasses of white wine with pasta that night.
Defence lawyer Tom Ivey told the court it was Neate’s second mid-range offence and the first took place in 2020.
Mr Ivey said Neate had been “kicking himself” for landing back in court.
Neate moved to Byron in 2018 and purchased The Secret Garden venue, but the business had to be sold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the court heard.
Mr Ivey said Neate had a few wines on the night of the offending to “perk himself up” because he had been sick, but it “didn’t work”.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said: “Five glasses of wine is going to put you over, in my view.”
Ms Stafford sentenced Neate to a one-year community correction order and fined him $800.
Neate was disqualified from driving for six months and must use an interlock device for 24 months once he is allowed back on the road.
He was also ordered to complete 60 hours of community service work and complete the sober driver program. A conviction was recorded.
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