West Gosford: Joseph Pridham, 34, busted almost six times over the limit after crash
A man who ploughed his ute into a parked trailer while almost six times over the limit couldn’t remember the crash but was able to nod when asked if he had been drinking, a court has heard.
Central Coast
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A man will be able to complete an alcohol rehabilitation program before being sentenced for high range drink-driving, which saw him slam his ute into a parked trailer.
Joseph Pridham, 34, of Kariong, faced Gosford Local Court on Thursday where his solicitor – celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench – applied for yet another adjournment.
Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said she adjourned the matter on the last occasion for Pridham to obtain a psychological report, which she said was unnecessary because “I already have a sentence assessment report”.
However, Mr Wrench sought the indulgence of the court because his client’s reading was “quite high” and wanted to demonstrate to the sentencing magistrate he had completed stage two of a full-time residential rehabilitation program.
An agreed set of facts states Pridham was behind the wheel of an Isuzu Dmax about 11.30pm on June 29 last year, 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.
Mr Wrench said his client had completed four weeks of a rehabilitation program with a second outpatient stage scheduled to finish on March 28.
He said Pridham’s licence was suspended on the day of the incident.
Ms Ellis said she “could finalise it today” if Pridham wanted to get it over with, but was prepared to adjourn it again so long as the psychological report, rehabilitation documentation and any other subjective material was filed with the court ahead of the sentencing.
She adjourned Pridham to April 3.
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