Ross Charles Dack: Sixth time drink driver gets sentenced

A regional magistrate has chided a 60-year-old repeat drink-driver who was on his way to get bread, suggesting he should have learned from previous mistakes. Read what happened in court.

Ross Charles Dack has been sentenced for drink driving for the sixth time.

A man who downed four mid-strength beers in 15 minutes told police he was on his way to “get bread” before being charged with his sixth drink-driving offence, a court has heard.

Ross Charles Dack, 60, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday pleading guilty to mid-range drink-driving.

Initially driving without a seatbelt on, Dack was spotted by patrolling police officers, who conducted a U-turn and conducted a breath test on him.

He blew a positive result and was arrested and taken to Dubbo police station about 2.50pm on April 7.

He returned a reading of 0.118.

Dack told police he consumed four Great Northern mid-strength beers in a 15-minute period prior to being pulled over.

According to his solicitor, Dack was gardening and needed to purchase some bread.

“He didn’t feel intoxicated,” his solicitor said.

Dubbo Courthouse. Picture: Jedd Manning/Western Aerial Productions

When Magistrate Gary Wilson argued that this was the offender’s sixth drink-driving offence, the solicitor stated Dack is in a “different life stage to when previous offending occurred”.

“He will now have the benefit of an interlock device,” she said.

“He is unsure whether his employment will be terminated.

“He now realises the affects of drink-driving.”

Magistrate Wilson said only “a very very few” people come into the court for a sixth drink driving offence.

“You’d think you’d learn from one mistake - not five previous mistakes,” he said.

“The previous offending does not afford you any discount whatsoever.”

Dack has been convicted and sentenced to an 18-month Community Correction Order.

He was also disqualified for holding a driver’s licence for six months and is required to go on an interlock for 12 months.