Anthony Somerset: Quakers Hill High School PE teacher sentenced for high-range drink driving

A high school PE teacher who was caught trying to drive a car after drinking 400ml of Johnnie Walker scotch has been given a lashing in court.

A PE teacher has been lashed in court after he was caught behind the wheel after drinking 400ml of scotch.

Quakers Hill High School PE teacher Anthony Somerset, 60, was sentenced in Blacktown Local Court for driving with high range PCA after blowing more than four times above the legal blood alcohol limit.

The fact sheet stated police were alerted to a possible drunk driver in a red Mazda around 7pm on January 11.

When police officers approached the parked vehicle they found Somerset sitting inside, attempting to turn it on.

The Kings Langley man was breath tested by police and returned a positive reading. He was taken to Riverstone Police Station where a secondary test returned a positive reading of .231.

The PE teacher told police he had not eaten all day but had drunk about 400ml of Johnnie Walker Red Label before hopping behind the wheel. Court documents state following his arrest, Somerset appeared remorseful and acknowledged his wrongdoing.

In Blacktown Local Court, Somerset’s lawyer, Christopher Wozniak said Somerset was in a “tough period” of his life and had “significant health issues”.

Magistrate Brian van Zuylen lashed Somerset’s actions stating he was lucky he didn’t kill himself or others that night.

“You were over four times the legal limit. What makes you go drink that amount of scotch and get behind the wheel and drive?” said Mr van Zuylen.

“You are incredibly lucky you didn’t kill or seriously injure yourself or anyone else. You are a PE teacher at Quakers Hill High School and a personal trainer, you surely should know better.”

Quakers Hill High School

Mr van Zuylen then pointed out while this was Somerset’s first high range drink driving offence, his driving record was very poor.

“You have close to 40 infringements on your record including speeding over 30km over the limit, multiple suspensions and yet you are still committing driving offences,” he said.

Somerset was fined $1900 and disqualified from driving for six months, backdated to January 11. He will also have to have a mandatory alcohol interlock device fitted to his vehicle for 24 months following his suspension.