Edward Bolt: Lismore man sentenced for drink driving at Monaltrie

A man busted drink driving after consuming up to 12 schooners at his local watering hole has appeared in court, which heard how his brother’s tragic murder saw him turn to alcohol.

Edward Bolt was sentenced at Maclean Local Court.

A man whose brother was murdered has been busted drink driving after consuming up to 12 schooners at a local watering hole.

Lismore man Edward Bolt, 49, fronted Maclean Local Court on Thursday with his wife after he had pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving.

Documents tendered to court lay out how Bolt was pulled over by police just before midnight on February 15 as he was driving south down Wyrallah Rd, Monaltrie.

“(After Bolt) was asked to provide his drivers licence … (he) stated, ‘You don’t need to do that I’m going to be over’,” police facts state.

The court heard police also noticed Bolt was slurring his words and his breath smelt strongly of booze.

Edward Bolt outside Maclean Local Court.

“(Bolt said) he had consumed 10 to 12 schooners of Great Northern Beer at the Civic Hotel, with his first drink at 10am and his last drink at 11pm,” police facts state.

He returned a reading of 0.112 — just above double the legal limit.

Edward Bolt.

On Thursday, the court heard of the tragic circumstances which led to Bolt being caught for the first time drink driving.

Duncan’s lawyer told the court her client’s son had passed away unexpectedly in 2011 and his brother was murdered that same year.

The court heard after these tragic events Bolt was diagnosed with depression and started to turn to alcohol.

The long term Lismore resident had also recently retired from work due to chronic back issues and had to leave his hometown and relocate to Yamba due to the floods.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts noted Bolt had completed the traffic offenders’ program, but said he should have thought of another way to go home after consuming so much alcohol throughout the day.

“(But) this is clearly something that is out of character for you,” Ms Crofts said, noting Bolt’s very limited criminal history, with his last court appearance occurring back in 2001.

Ms Crofts convicted Bolt and fined him $500. He was also disqualified from driving for three months and must hold an interlock driver’s licence for one year following the disqualification period.