Jagnoordeep Singh Gill convicted for fifth drink-driving offence in Canberra

A Canberra chef has been sentenced after being caught drunk behind the wheel for the fifth time in less than six years.

A Canberra chef has been ordered off the road for more than two years after being busted drunk behind the wheel for the fifth time in less than six years.

Jagnoordeep Singh Gill, of Palmerston, was caught with a blood alcohol reading of .208 when he was pulled over by police earlier this year.

Gill’s lawyer told Magistrate Lisbeth Campbell on Thursday her client had attended a family gathering at the restaurant where he worked in Queanbeyan to mourn the loss of a relative.

She said Gill’s sister and his brother in law had recently arrived in Canberra, and said the family had not reunited in several years.

Jagnoordeep Singh Gill has been told by a magistrate he cannot afford to make the same mistake again. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The lawyer said Gill drank whiskey and was “highly emotional” during the event, and made a “foolish and criminal decision to help his family” when he offered to drive his brother in law home.

She said the car was not fitted with an interlock, which went against Gill’s licence conditions.

The lawyer said her client financially supported his wife and children alongside his sister, brother in law and their child as they were on a bridging visa.

She said Gill was the only chef at the restaurant which cannot afford to hire a new chef, and said 10 employees relied on her client for employment.

Ms Campbell said it was particularly troubling to see such a high blood alcohol reading, especially because Gill’s licence conditions stated he could not drive with any alcohol in his system due to his prior offences.

She said drink driving put Gill’s brother in law at risk of being killed or injured which would not have helped a family already “overwhelmed with grief”.

Ms Campbell said Gill’s offending had not yet crossed the threshold for jail time but gave him a stern warning.

“I don’t think you can afford to make the same mistake again” she said.

In response to Gill’s assertion that he would not touch alcohol ever again, Ms Campbell said she didn’t care if he drank again, but just wanted him to not get behind the wheel intoxicated.

She sentenced him to a 30-month disqualification period, a $1500 fine to pay within 3 months and an 18 month good behaviour order with 12 months of supervision.