Chain Valley Bay: Drunk-driver recorded 0.307 reading after crashing into a ditch

A man was so drunk he couldn’t even walk a few metres to an ambulance after driving his Audi into a ditch shortly after 10am. And you won’t believe what he blew at his roadside breath test.

Darrin Paul Noble leaving Wyong Local Court after being sentenced for high range drink-driving when he crashed his car into a ditch and later recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.307. Photo: NewsLocal

A 53-year-old had to be propped up by two paramedics to walk just three metres to an ambulance after police found him behind the wheel of an Audi station wagon stuck in a ditch.

Darrin Paul Noble faced Wyong Local Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving.

An agreed set of facts stated Noble, of Summerland Point, was driving about 10.20am on November 21 last year when he failed to negotiate a ditch between sealed and unsealed sections of roadway at the intersection of Chain Valley Bay and Link roads at Chain Valley Bay.

The facts stated Noble hit the ditch about 40kmh, which caused his head to strike the steering wheel leaving him with a small cut and bruising.

Another passing motorist saw Noble slumped in the driver’s seat and called police.

Officers arrived and he confirmed he had been driving.

The ditch at the intersection between the sealed Chain Valley Bay Rd and the unsealed Link Rd, at Chain Valley Bay, where Noble managed to get stuck in it. Picture: Google

He was breath tested at the scene and the facts stated he returned a blood alcohol reading of nearly 0.450 “almost nine times the legal limit”.

“His speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and there was a strong smell of alcohol being emitted from his person,” the facts stated.

“He required the assistance of both paramedics to walk the 3m to the ambulance.”

Noble leaving Wyong Local Court after being sentenced for high range drink-driving. Photo: NewsLocal

Noble was taken to Wyong Hospital where a blood sample was taken and later returned an official reading of 0.307 — more than six times the limit.

Noble’s solicitor told the court her client had a long history of alcohol abuse and was “spiralling” in a “bad circle” at the time.

She said since the crash Noble had spent seven months in residential rehabilitation and had the support of his three adult children to keep sober.

She said he was still undergoing substance abuse treatment and attending meetings twice a week.

“He’s done everything he can,” she said.

Magistrate John Arms said while Noble’s commitment to his rehabilitation was commendable, his reading was so high it “crossed the threshold” to warrant a jail sentence.

“You could have killed someone,” he said.

Mr Arms convicted Noble and sentenced him to 12 months jail to be served as an intensive correction order in the community, where he also has to perform 100 hours service.

Noble was also disqualified from driving for a minimum nine months and put on an interlock order for a following two years.