Jake Causley: Yamba man fronts Grafton Court for drink driving

A Yamba man who took police on a wild chase while almost four times over the legal drinking limit has revealed the reason behind his chaotic moments on the road.

A Yamba man has narrowly avoided jail after leading a dramatic police chase that saw him swerve onto the wrong side of the road before blowing almost four times over the legal drinking limit.

Jake Causley, 24, who appeared in Grafton Local Court on Monday, had three passengers in his car when he took off at South Grafton just before midnight on May 27.

He would later return a blood alcohol of 0.195, the court heard.

Causley’s solicitor said he felt “stressed” on the night of the incident, due to a recent divorce and the inability to see his six-month-old daughter.

He said the young dad was driving to his grandmother’s house when police heard tyres screeching near Grafton Police station, catching their attention.

Causley evaded police leading them on a chase to Grafton MacDonald's, where his car lost traction, before veering into the right lane for “30 seconds”, police facts state.

Jake Causley had three passengers in his car when he swerved onto the wrong side of the road before blowing four times over the legal drinking limit in Grafton.

Eventually stopped by police at Spring St, he admitted to “driving like a hoon”.

A can of booze was found at the footwell of his car which Causley unsuccessfully attempted to empty before police could grab it, the facts state.

Causley pleaded guilty to the charges of negligent driving and high range drink driving.

His lawyer said Causley “didn’t realise the seriousness of his actions”, which Magistrate Kathy Crittenden described as potentially having “catastrophic” consequences.

Ms Crittenden called Causley’s actions “excuseless” and showed a “flagrant disregard for the safety of others”.

“I’m surprised it wasn’t clear to you (that the actions were serious),” Ms Crittenden said.

She noted the risk Causley’s decision to drive posed to himself, the passengers and the Grafton community.

“This is exactly the type of situation that causes tragedy. It’s lucky no one was hurt,” she said.

“People’s lives are changed. There’s no excuse for this conduct.”

Causley was convicted and sentenced to a 16 month community corrections order “as an alternative to jail” and disqualified from driving for eight months.

He will also be ordered to pay a $800 fine.