Ross Princiotta: Gladesville man sentenced for high-range drink driving
After drinking spirits in his office, a self-employed businessman has run red lights and smashed into cars, signposts and walls on his drunken journey to an inner west city brothel.
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A self-employed businessman’s drunken “roller derby” to a Sydney brothel, running red lights and smashing into cars, sign posts and walls across a series of inner west suburbs, has seen the father slapped with a jail sentence.
Rosario Princiotta, of Gladesville, was behind the wheel of his work ute close about 11.45pm on a Sunday night in August when he collided into the back of a car waiting at traffic lights in Drummoyne.
The court heard the 43-year-old married man had spent the night at his work office drinking spirits before hopping behind the wheel.
After hitting the back of the car Princiotta failed to stop to swap details, and simply overtook the victim car and drove on. The victim followed the drunk Princiotta and watched his ute swerve and drive on the wrong side of the road, knocking over sign poles and driving on median strips through Rozelle and Petersham.
“We are talking about a roller derby here,” Magistrate Erin Kennedy said. “That is what was happening on our roads.”
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The witness, while on the phone to police, saw the ute run a red light at the intersection of Parramatta Rd and Norton St, Leichhardt before driving into a wall.
The parked ute parked was found by police behind Gateway Club brothel on Parramatta Rd with smashed windscreen and windows, “extensive damage” to all panels and the roof partly caved in, the police facts reveal.
Police entered the brothel and asked reception to get the Gladesville man, who told officers he had driven the ute to the location but didn’t remember hitting anything. He later recorded a breath analysis more than three times over the legal limit, being 0.160.
In Downing Centre Local Court on Friday, Princiotta’s lawyer Joseph Scglitano said his client had been suffering from personal issues, COVID-19 work-related stresses and an undiagnosed mental health condition at the time.
“He is extremely lucky there wasn’t catastrophic circumstances to himself or another person,” he said.
Magistrate Kennedy said Princiotta’s driving was like a “death wish” and was glad he was receiving professional support.
Princiotta pleaded guilty to four offences including high-range drink driving and negligent driving and was sentenced to a seven-month jail term, to be served in the community as an intensive corrections order, with conditions he continues to treat his mental health issues and completes alcohol rehabilitation.
His licence was disqualified for six months.