Sentenced: Joseph Pridham, 34, blew 0.289 after crashing into a parked trailer at West Gosford

A celebrity lawyer, a psych report and even a stint in rehab weren’t enough to avoid a conviction and a big whack for a man who ploughed into a parked trailer almost six times over the limit.

Joseph Pridham, 34, of Kariong, was convicted and sentenced for high range drink-driving after ploughing into a parked trailer and recording a blood-alcohol level of 0.289. Picture: NewsLocal

The third time in court wasn’t necessarily a charm for a 34-year-old man who copped the equivalent of 15 months jail for ploughing into the back of a parked trailer while almost six times over the legal blood alcohol limit.

Joseph Pridham, 34, of Kariong, faced Gosford Local Court for the third time since he crashed blind drunk at West Gosford in June last year.

On two previous appearances his solicitor, celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench, sought further adjournments to obtain subjective material.

The first time in December was to obtain a psychological report followed by another request in January to allow Pridham more time to complete an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Each time Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said she was prepared to finalise the matter because she had all the material she required.

Celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench tried everything he could for Pridham but his client was eventually sentenced. (file image)

But the axe finally fell on Thursday when Pridham fronted court and was sentenced to an intensive correction order (ICO) for 15 months.

An ICO is considered by the courts to be the equivalent of a jail sentence but served in the community.

Pridham, 34, of Kariong,had a big problem with alcohol but has spent the past few weeks in a rehab program. Picture: NewsLocal

Conditions of the order include Pridham abstain from alcohol and any illicit drugs, perform 200 hours of community service work and visit his GP to prepare a mental health plan.

Pridham was also disqualified from diving for nine months and put on an interlock order for a further 24 months.

An agreed set of facts states Pridham was behind the wheel of an Isuzu Dmax about 11.30pm on June 29, 2024, when he lost control in Stockyard Place, West Gosford.

“The accused has collided with a parked trailer, bearing QLD registration, causing the airbags to deploy in and damage the front of his vehicle,” the facts state.

“This caused the metal frame on the rear of the trailer to bend. The force generated from the collision has pushed the trailer into another parked vehicle causing significant damage to the rear of the vehicle.”

Police and paramedics arrived and treated him at the scene.

“Police asked him for a version (of events) however he said he was unable to recall what happened,” the facts state.

“Police cautioned him and asked if he had been drinking to which he nodded.”

Pridham was taken to Gosford Hospital where a blood sample was taken and returned a reading of 0.289 – almost six times the legal limit.