Nicholas Ian Davidson in Coffs Harbour court for high range drink driving

A Coffs Harbour retail worker with a “litany” of prior speeding matters was sentenced for high range drink driving. Police noticed him when he turned against a red light.

The 43-year-old has no prior drink driving matters on his record but a “litany of speeding matters”, Magistrate Dakin told the court.​

After a big night celebrating his 16-year wedding anniversary a Coffs Harbour man made the mistake of driving to get cigarettes.

Nicholas Ian Davison was before Magistrate Michael Dakin in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to high-range drink-driving on the night of February 13.

The court heard Mr Davison works at Coffs Harbour Kmart and has been catching public transport since the incident but will be soon take up a managerial position at Toormina which will make this more difficult.

The 43-year-old has no prior drink driving matters on his record but a “litany of speeding matters”, Mr Dakin told the court.

After celebrating their wedding milestone at various venues including the Pier and Coffs Harbour hotels, the couple returned home by taxi but later in the evening Mr Davison decided to drive a short distance from home to buy cigarettes.

“He was brought to the attention of the police by speeding but he was unaware the police were behind him and he turned right against a red traffic arrow,” Mr Dakin told the court, adding that while he wasn’t charged for speeding, it was a relative factor in his judgment.

He was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order from April 4 and disqualified from driving for six months after which he will be eligible to apply for an interlock licence.