Hugh Hogarth: Picton teenager pleads guilty to mid-range drink driving after Cawdor crash

A teenager who made the ill-fated decision to drive while “inspired by the vigour of teenage arrogance and fuelled by alcohol” has faced court after his boozy night ended in disaster.

Hugh Hogarth pleaded guilty to drink driving at Picton Local Court.

A teenager’s late-night drive after drinking straight vodka at a mate’s house ended in disaster when he rolled his car, careening to a stop on its roof.

Hugh Hogarth, 19, fronted Picton Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to mid range drinking.

The provisional licence holder had been consuming straight vodka at his pal’s home before he “decided to drive” around Cawdor about 11.30pm, according to police documents.

He soon lost control of the vehicle and left the road, rolling the car multiple times and crashing into trees before coming to a stop on its roof in bushland.

Hogarth, of Picton, called triple-0 and flagged police officers down about 200m from the crash site on their arrival.

Hugh Hogarth.

Court documents state he told officers a kangaroo had jumped out from the side of the road which resulted in him swerving and losing control.

They observed him to be nervous, speaking erratically and could smell intoxicating liquor on his breath test so tested him. He blew a 0.115 reading.

Hogarth initially told police he had consumed two straight vodkas, but as he talked with them the amount he had consumed changed.

In a letter to the court, Hogarth apologised for his actions and spoke of the toll it had taken on his loved ones having to watch him deal with a court matter.

“I am so deeply ashamed of what I have done and am filled with a sense of remorse that is unparalleled,” he said.

“Inspired by the vigour of teenage arrogance and fuelled by alcohol I saw myself fit to drive.”

At court on Wednesday, Magistrate David Degnan told Hogarth this was worse than a usual drink driving matter as he was on his P-plates.

“You’re supported to be zero, you’re P1,” he said. “You lost control of the vehicle and rolled your own vehicle … you are lucky that you and someone else was not seriously injured or killed in that.

“Think you’re bulletproof. Well you’re not.”

A sentence assessment report has been ordered and Hogarth will be sentenced at the same court in January.