Thomas Phillip Harris sentenced for drink driving three times in one afternoon

A Queanbeyan man has been sentenced after he was charged with drink driving three times in one afternoon, telling police after his third arrest “you’re not going to stop me”.

Thomas Phillip Harris outside Queanbeyan Local Court.

A former Queanbeyan crane worker has narrowly avoided jail after being caught high-range drink driving three times in one afternoon, telling police he was “gonna keep driving”.

Thomas Phillip Harris was sentenced for his afternoon of madness where he was pinged drunk behind the wheel three times in Queanbeyan on September 3, 2022.

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Police facts say the 61-year-old father came onto police radar after he was spotted swerving on Morisset St about 3.15pm.

Harris then sharply turned into Crawford St, failing to give way to another car before he turned into the Dan Murphy’s Bottle Shop and hit a gutter.

Court documents say he was met by police who asked about his driving, with Harris replying “oh well”.

Thomas Phillip Harris.

When officers asked about his near collision he replied “what car”.

Police breath tested Harris who later returned a blood-alcohol reading of .182, with officers suspending his licence on the spot.

More than an hour later the Queanbeyan man was behind the wheel again and was stopped by police on Morisset St.

Police facts say Harris fell out of his car because of his intoxication and returned a reading .178 at the police station.

He was warned again by police to not drive but Harris said “I don’t give a f---, I’m gonna (sic) keep driving”.

About 5.20pm the same day, Harris was seen driving by police along Morisset St and was pulled over in the Aldi car park along Crawford St.

Thomas Phillip Harris outside Queanbeyan Local Court.

The Queanbeyan man was arrested and said “told you I was going to drive … you’re not going to stop me”.

He was breath tested and returned a reading of .150 per cent.

Defence lawyer Luke Vozella said Harris had been reeling from the death of a friend and his mum in the lead up to the offences, reaching a point of “complete rock bottom”.

As a result of the charges Harris had lost his job as a crane worker but was receiving counselling for his mental health and alcoholism.

Mr Vozella said in mitigation the reading was dropping each time and Harris wasn’t charged with aggressive or erratic driving.

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Magistrate Roger Clisdell said Harris was in “self destruction mode” that afternoon and the “penny must’ve dropped” after his third arrest when his bail was refused.

Harris pleaded guilty to three counts of high range drink driving and two of driving while suspended.

He was placed on a community corrections order for 12 months and an intensive corrections order for 10 months.

The Queanbeyan man was ordered to complete 100 hours community service and was given a head disqualification of 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.