Shane Lee Walsh jailed at Lismore for drink driving, driving recklessly

A drink driver has been jailed after crashing his car into a Casino home. See why a magistrate called him a ‘coward’.

Shane Lee Walsh, 38, was sentenced at Casino Local Court on Thursday for high range drink driving – second offence.

A high range drink driver has landed in jail after four schooners sent him careening off the road and into a Casino home.

Shane Lee Walsh, 38, was sentenced at Casino Local Court on Thursday for high range drink driving – second offence, not giving particulars to owner of damaged property, driving recklessly and driving with interlock device circumvented.

He pleaded guilty to all charges on January 19.

Walsh was driving a white Mitsubishi Triton eastbound on Queensland Rd, Casino, about 7.30pm on November 19, when the vehicle left the road at approximately 80kph, hit a number of fences on two properties and crashed into a brick home.

The residents rushed outside to see Walsh flee the scene.

Walsh pleaded guilty after drink driving into a Casino home. Picture: News Corp

Police and community members gave chase and found Walsh soon after on Hotham St.

He was taken to Casino Police Station where a breath test returned a reading of 0.153.

Walsh told officers he’d drunk four schooners of full strength VB since 6pm, but refused to comment on the crash.

Magistrate Roger Prowse said Walsh was “obviously lying” because four schooners didn’t have enough alcohol to result in such a high breath test reading.

“You ran like a coward … scarpering off into the dark to try and get away with it,” he told Walsh.

“Not only are you a person of compromised moral standing – you are a coward – you’re also a liar.”

Walsh had previously been convicted of high range drink driving in 2021, and held an interlock licence.

But there was no interlock fitted to the car.

There was no interlock fitted to the car Walsh crashed into the house. Picture: Jordan Phillip

Walsh’s solicitor told the court Walsh didn’t understand he had to have an interlock fitted to his vehicle after the disqualification period was over.

Mr Prowse said the suggestion Walsh “could have honestly misunderstood that is garbage”.

“There was therefore a deliberate flouting of the requirement to have an interlock fitted to the vehicle so you couldn’t drink and drive,” he said.

“It's not a mistake, you clearly knew what you were doing.

“A mistake is like wearing corduroy on any occasion.

“This is a deliberate criminal act.”

The court heard Walsh had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty.

The defence said Walsh had a possible brain injury, and had suffered trauma in his past, making him vulnerable in prison.

But Mr Prowse said the Casino community would be vulnerable if Walsh remained at large.

“He’s a danger to the community,” Mr Prowse said.

“You need to come to the realisation you have a serious alcohol problem.”

Walsh was jailed for 17 months with a non-parole period of 10 months, and fined $1200.