Davinder Singh, 31, from Safety Beach faces Coffs Harbour court for high-range drink driving

A former DoorDash delivery driver, who continued to work as a kitchen hand after his learner licence was suspended, has admitted to blowing a huge reading while driving home on a major highway after drinking in a carpark.

Davinder Singh pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving and driving without a licence in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday before being sentenced.

A kitchen hand with a suspended learner licence drove home along a highway after drinks in a carpark before being picked up almost five times over the limit.

Davinder Singh pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving and driving without a licence in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday before being sentenced.

Magistrate Julia Virgo described the incident as “shocking”, telling Singh he had a responsibility to other road users.

“And you entirely abandoned that responsibility,” she said.

Singh’s lawyer Todd Ritchie told the court that his client had finished his shift as a kitchen hand at a Coffs Harbour Indian restaurant on the night of October 25 and had a few drinks in the carpark.

Davinder Singh leaves Coffs Harbour court.

The court heard that the 31-year-old had held an Indian driver’s licence and had been issued with an Australian learner’s licence before it was suspended in early September when he failed a knowledge test.

Due to the loss of his licence he had to give up his work as a DoorDash meal delivery driver but was able to get lifts to his job as a kitchen hand.

But, on the night of October 25, he was unable to get a lift and made the “unfortunate” decision to make the “lengthy journey” back to his home in Safety Beach near Woolgoolga, Mr Ritchie told the court.

Singh was picked up for a random breath test on Solitary Islands Way near the Bosworth Road intersection just before 11pm.

According to court documents police found him to be ‘well affected’ by alcohol.

When he was breath tested, Singh blew 0.245 and a police check revealed his learner driver’s licence had been suspended on September 6.

Davinder Singh blew 0.245 on October 25, 2024.

Since the night of the offending Singh has been working as a berry packer at a facility in the Safety Beach area and his employer had organised the rosters to allow him to travel to work with a colleague Mr Ritchie told the court.

During sentencing, Ms Virgo said she would be giving “no leniency” and if a collision had occurred on that night she would be considering a custodial sentence.

She said his high reading indicated a “significant problem” with alcohol and urged him to seek professional assistance.

Singh was convicted and fined $1,000 and given a 12-month community corrections order.

He was disqualified from driving for nine months from the date of the offence and will then be eligible for a two-year interlock licence.

For driving without a licence he was given a six-month suspension which will run at the same time as the nine-month suspension.

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