Australian Reptile Park boss Tim Faulkner pleads guilty to high range drink driving

Australian Reptile Park boss and former conservationist of the year Tim Faulkner was found passed out drunk behind the wheel on a busy road. Here’s why.

Australian Reptile Park director Tim Faulkner has pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving after he was found passed out drunk behind the wheel on Wyong Rd, Tumbi Umbi, after three gin and lemonades. Picture: supplied

Internationally renowned wildlife warrior and former Australian Geographic Conservationist of the Year Tim Faulkner has been ordered to continue treatment for alcoholism after a “perfect storm” of problems saw his personal life spiral out of control.

It comes after the 41-year-old boss of the Central Coast’s most successful tourism attraction, the Australian Reptile Park, was found passed out drunk behind the wheel of his Toyota HiLux.

Faulkner faced Wyong Local Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving but became among the “one per cent of drivers” to escape a conviction for the offence after a magistrate found his life’s work preserving wildlife combined with his remorse and “impressive subjective case” meant he was “unlikely to reoffend”.

An agreed set of facts states police were alerted by a “keep a look out” broadcast on police radio when they came across his white HiLux parked in the bus lane of Wyong Rd near the roundabout with Beckingham Rd, Tumbi Umbi, about midday on Monday, December 4.

Officers approached the driver’s side window and saw Faulkner passed out behind the wheel.

Australian Reptile Park co-owner Tim Faulkner arriving at Wyong Local Court to face one charge of high range drink-driving. Picture: NewsLocal

“After a number of attempts to wake the driver he woke, stating ‘I’m not driving’,” the facts state.

Faulkner failed a roadside breath test and was taken to Wyong Police Station where he later recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.159.

Faulkner was found passed out in the bus lane on Wyong Rd, Tumbi Umbi, near the roundabout with Beckingham Rd. Picture: Google

He told police he consumed three 375ml cans of gin and lemonade with his first drink at 10am and his last drink at 12.30pm.

His barrister Jamie Clements, of Sydney Criminal Lawyers, told the court Faulkner was suffering from alcohol abuse disorder after he started self-medicating to deal with “significant stressors” in his life.

Mr Clements said since his arrest, Faulkner has started seeing two counsellors, had undertaken the traffic offenders course and had promised to stay off the grog for the rest of his life.

In a letter of apology to the court Faulkner said while outwardly he had “lived up to my persona and over achieved” internally he had “not cared for myself very well”.

Faulkner was better known for his conservation efforts with the Australian Reptile Park and Aussie Ark. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Among his many successes, Faulkner cited he was co-owner and director of the Australian Reptile Park, named Australian Geographic’s Conservationist of the Year, NSW Business Chamber’s State Business Leader of the Year, a director of nationally recognised charity Aussie Ark, which he co-founded, and was a doting dad who coached his sons’ soccer teams.

But the court heard that inside his life was in turmoil with his marriage of 17 years collapsing, two close family members dealing with significant medical issues and his conservation efforts taking an “enormous toll”.

Faulkner said he and his wife Liz were separating after 17 years of marriage. Picture Renee Nowytarger

“Realistically my life has been out of control since the 2019/20 bushfires, followed by the impacts of Covid on my businesses,” he said.

“The day of my arrest I simply couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t and didn’t go to work which is profoundly unusual for me. I stayed in bed for some time, [and] got up midmorning.

“I decided to go fishing to kill some time and made the fatal error and used incredibly poor judgement and purchased alcohol.”

Faulkner said he wished it didn’t take the shame and guilt of his arrest for high range drink-driving to be the catalyst for him to seek help, which was “fundamentally overdue” but he was glad it did and described it as “a gift”.

Magistrate Robert Munro found the offence proven and placed him on a 12-month conditional release order, including that he continue treatment for alcoholism, but recorded no conviction.

Outside court his barrister Mr Clements said the non-conviction would enable Faulkner to continue his good work.

“The fact that Tim received no criminal conviction, when only one per cent of sentences for high range drink-driving result in non-convictions, shows the high esteem that Tim is held in the community and what an aberration this offending was for him,” Mr Clements said.