Wyong Court: Brock Sanchez, Thomas Lane and Garry Lane plead guilty to drink-driving related offences

A farrier who couldn’t control his horses, a health boss who self medicated after a crash and a repeat offender who “doubled down” on a previous drink-driving offence walked into a court.

CCLHD administrator Brock Sanchez, 43, farrier Thomas Lane, 32, and property manager Garry Lane, 41, were all convicted over drink-driving type offences at Wyong Local Court . Picture 16x9: supplied

A farrier totalled his ute after a relationship breakdown, a health worker started self-administering fortified wine after crashing a government car into a fence while a repeat offender — already suspended for drink-driving — was busted behind the wheel and again over the limit.

A Wyong Local Court magistrate was left scratching his head at the sheer stupidity of some drivers after sentencing a procession of traffic violators for more than two hours straight on Monday morning.

Among the offenders were three men picked up in separate incidents late last year.

BROCK KEITH SANCHEZ, 44, TOUKLEY

The married father-of-three Central Coast Local Area Health administrator pleaded guilty to altering the concentration of alcohol before a test and negligent driving after crashing a work car into a fence at Wallarah Point Peace Park.

Sanchez crashed into the safety fence at Wallarah Point Peace Park before drinking more wine to alter the concentration before a breath test. (File image)

Upon entering his guilty pleas, a related charge of high range drink-driving was withdrawn and dismissed.

An agreed set of facts state Sanchez told police he pulled over about 11.35am on August 9 after his left back tyre “blew out” before he clipped the safety fence at the park entry off Wallarah Rd.

His solicitor said Sanchez started drinking fortified wine to cope with the “anxiety and stress”.

However, magistrate Justin Peach said according to police there was never any damage to the back wheel and Sanchez was already “drunk enough to cause a collision” before he started drinking wine afterwards.

He said the charge was introduced to stop people trying to get off drink-driving offences by downing alcohol after an incident.

But Mr Peach conceded it was “difficult” to know whether that was Sanchez’s intention.

Mr Peach convicted him, placed him on a community correction order (CCO) for 18 months and fined him $880.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

THOMAS JACK LANE, 32, DOORALONG

The self-employed farrier and trackwork jockey had just broken up with a woman when he crashed his car a week out from Christmas on Jilliby Rd.

The court heard Lane had “very little memory” of getting behind the wheel given his “blood alcohol was at such a level he didn’t know what he was doing”.

The court heard Lane was a self-employed farrier. (File image: ZOE PHILLIPS)

Lane was in his blue Toyota Hilux when he crossed over to the wrong side of the road going around a bend about 7.15pm on December 15.

An agreed set of facts states he tried to correct but lost traction and rolled the ute with such force it ripped the tray from the chassis and sent debris everywhere.

He was taken to hospital where tests returned a reading of 0.215 — more than four times the limit.

His lawyer said Lane still owed $7000 in repayments on the car, which was a write-off and his farrier business and track work would be impacted “financially” by the licence suspension.

Mr Peach put him on an 18-month CCO, and disqualified him for seven months with a further 24 months on an interlock device.

He was also fined a total of $1980.

GARRY LIONEL LANE, 41, TOOWOON BAY

The property manager represented himself when he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and low range drink-driving.

The court head Lane, who was no apparent relation to the other man Thomas Lane, was disqualified from driving for five years in 2023 for a mid-range drink-driving offence.

Garry Lane was picked up at a RBT trying to exit the diver’s seat.

An agreed set of facts states he was in a Toyota hatchback approaching a random breath test on Budgewoi Rd at Noraville about 6.30pm on December 27 when he pulled up 200m short.

Police approached the car and caught him trying to exit the driver’s seat.

He told officers he couldn’t provide a licence because he was disqualified and was taken to Toukley Police Station where he returned a reading of 0.077.

He told police he had drunk three 375ml pre-mixed vodka drinks.

Mr Peach said Lane risked going to jail after he “doubled down” on his previous traffic offences by “driving while disqualified while you had intoxicating liquor in your system”.

He put him on an 18-month CCO, disqualified him for a further six months and fined him $1500.