Darren Edward Smith: Fairy Meadow man sentenced after driving drunk on Christmas Day

A Fairy Meadow man has learned his fate after driving with more than twice the legal alcohol limit - and cocaine - in his system on Christmas morning. DETAILS here.

A 49-year-old man who blew more than twice the legal alcohol limit on Christmas morning was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.

Darren Edward Smith, of Fairy Meadow, blew 0.104 when he was pulled over in his Land Rover Freelander by police on London Drive, West Wollongong just before 6am after running through a red light.

Darren Edward Smith pleaded guilty to the Christmas morning charges in Wollongong Local Court.

Smith, who the court heard was convicted of similar offences in 2006, was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he told officers he had five self-poured Wild Turkey and Cokes the previous evening on an empty stomach.

Smith was drug tested and returned a positive test for cocaine.

Smith’s solicitor told the court the defendant was on the way to collect Christmas presents for his partner’s children from a storage facility in Warrawong when he was arrested.

Magistrate Gabriel Fleming stated Smith had a conviction for possession of an illicit substance one month before the Christmas Day infringement, however, a puzzled Smith, while shaking his head, said he had no knowledge of the incident.

Fairy Meadow man Darren Edward Smith leaving Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The magistrate told Smith to seek legal advice for the matter and before handing down her sentence she told him, “Your driving record is very poor” and that he “should know better”.

Magistrate Fleming convicted him of the charge of driving with a mid range PCA and with an illicit drug in his system.

Smith was ordered to pay a $750 fine, disqualified from driving for four months and when he does get back behind the wheel, he will require an interlock device for 12 months.