Christopher Hofman: Peakhurst man avoids jail over drink drive
A repeat drunk driver was so intoxicated at the wheel, staff at a petrol station called police to get him off the street.
Inner West
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An off-road loving P-plater has narrowly avoided going to jail after being charged for high-range drink driving when service station staff alerted the police after he walked in to fuel up drunk.
Peakhurst man Christopher Hofman, a father of three, almost ended up behind bars over the 2020 incident as his lawyer pleaded for another chance at Burwood Local Court on Thursday.
The court was told Hofman had caught the attention of staff at a petrol station about 9.20am when he tried to buy cigarettes.
They raised their concerns with police about his driving as he pulled in.
The off-road enthusiast, the court heard, had previously been in court for mid-range drink driving three times before and was also disqualified from driving when he got behind the wheel drunk.
His lawyer argued Hofman had a problem with alcohol and had been “triggered” that day a family dispute.
He added that Hofman was addressing his issue with booze and was a “good employee”.
According to the statement of facts read out in court, Hofman was approached by police who just so happened to be in the service station at the time and noticed him smelling of alcohol with bloodshot eyes.
Staff alerted officers after they observed him to be “intoxicated” that morning.
Hofman initially refused to take a breath test but when he did he blew a blood-alcohol level reading of 0.155, more than three times the legal limit.
“He’s playing with fire here,” Magistrate Susan Horan said.
His lawyer handed up a letter of remorse from Hofman and several character references, including two from his mother and girlfriend, who were supporting him in the public gallery.
Hofman was sentenced to a jail term of 12 months but will get to serve in the community as an intensive corrections order.
He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and when he gets his licence back he has to have his car fitted with an interlock device for two years.
“You were in no state to drive, you were well and truly over the limit,” Magistrate Horan said.
“Somebody is going to get killed if you don’t stop.”
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