Ex-police officer Wayne Reed in Coffs court on drink driving charges

An ex-cop who went out to celebrate with his girlfriend after buying a new car ended up being charged for drink driving twice in one night. Here is what happened in court.

An ex-cop, who went to the beach to celebrate with his girlfriend after buying a new car, ended up in Coffs Harbour court for drink driving twice in one night.

The court heard Wayne Andrew Reed, 51, was medically retired from the police force 15 years ago, after 17 years on the job.

His lawyer Joe Fahey told the court his client was “not normally a drinker” but was an ultra-marathon runner who trained several times a week.

Mr Fahey said it helped Reed with his anxiety, but he had put on 10kg since the January 11 incident.

The court heard Reed lived in Upper Orara and worked as a car detailer at Mike Blewitt Ford in Coffs Harbour.

Mr Fahey said his client has been relying on lifts from work colleagues and taxis to get to work since being charged.

He said Reed and his partner went to the beach to celebrate the purchase of his new car and “he ended up having about three-quarters of a bottle of wine”.

The court heard he later came to the attention of police because his headlights were not on.

He was tested and was found to have a mid range concentration of alcohol in his system (0.127).

He was arrested and released on bail and his licence suspended.

With his new car parked in a “less than salubrious area” he was concerned about leaving it unattended, his lawyer told the court, so he decided to drive it away and a short time later was caught again by police.

He still had alcohol in his system but a lesser amount, and was charged with drive vehicle under influence of alcohol - first offence and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended - first offence.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers said Reed had a “sporadic” traffic history “but nothing of this nature” and that references tendered to the court all spoke very highly of him.

For driving with a middle range concentration of alcohol he was convicted and fined $770 and was disqualified from driving for three months to be followed by a 12-month interlock period.

For the second offence of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol he was convicted and sentenced to a community correction order for nine months from March 14.

For driving while his licence was suspended he was convicted and fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.