Blacktown dad Neeraj Shukla admits to high-range drink driving on school run

A Blacktown man has pleaded guilty after blowing almost four times the legal blood alcohol limit after crashing with two children in the car on the afternoon school run.

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A Blacktown man who was involved in a drunken crash with two children in the car on an afternoon school pick-up has faced Blacktown Local Court.

Neeraj Kumar Shukla, 37, pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.198 — almost four times the legal blood alcohol limit — on June 4 when he crashed into another car while picking children up from a Blacktown primary school.

Shukla was charged with high-range drink driving after he reversed into a car in a carpark at the intersection of Lyton St and Richmond Rd in Blacktown just after 3.20pm.

Police said Shukla had picked up his daughter, 6, and neighbour’s son, 9, from a nearby school when he returned the positive alcohol reading.

The carpark at the intersection of Lyton St and Richmond Rd in Blacktown where Neeraj Shukla was involved in a drunken crash on the afternoon school run. Picture: Google

Police said he was visibly intoxicated and was uncooperative and abusive towards officers during a roadside breath test.

In documents tendered to the court, police said Shukla had a “serious drinking problem” and was “dependent on alcohol”.

In court, the prosecution argued for a jail sentence.

“He had two children in the car and had no regard for their safety,” police prosecutor Sergeant Jarboui said.

“Some form of custodial sentence would be appropriate to send a message to the community. The community is sick of drunk drivers causing accidents.

“This behaviour is not acceptable.”

Shukla told the court he was recently unemployed and had been drinking due to stress.

In an apology addressed to the court, he said he was “humiliated” by his actions.

“There was no excuse for my actions and I accept full responsibility for what I’ve done,” he said.

“I have vowed to never again engage in such dangerous conduct by never drinking again.”

Magistrate David O’Neil said the matter was “serious” and ordered Shukla to receive a sentence assessment report to investigate the “stressors” in his life.

“It is an extremely serious offence to be driving a car at this reading, let alone with your children in the car, and you had an accident,” Mr O’Neil said.

He will be sentenced at Blacktown Local Court on August 6.