Ryan Beesley: Camden South father caught high-range drink-driving twice in five hours

A Camden South man caught drink-driving twice in less than five hours has been told to “grow up” for the sake of his two children by a Sydney magistrate.

A father-of-two who was caught drink-driving at five times the legal limit and was nabbed a second time hours later has been served a stinging rebuke by a local magistrate during sentencing.

Ryan Beesley, 28, appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of high-range drink-driving, two counts of driving while disqualified and breaking public health orders.

The Camden South resident also pleaded guilty to possessing 1.8 grams of cannabis.

During sentencing, Magistrate Michael Stoddart asked what example Beesley was setting to his children by drink-driving.

“When I look at it, they are damn lucky to still have a father,” he said.

“You could have killed yourself or somebody else.

“Grow up. You got a problem with alcohol….it’s not going to magically go away .”

Court documents reveal that about 8.40pm on July 30, police were in Bradbury when they drove up next to Beesley who was pulled over, sitting behind the wheel with the engine on.

When they asked him if he was OK, his speech was slurred leading to the suspicion that he was affected by alcohol.

Police facts state the officers assisted him out of the car and when they conducted checks it was found Beesley was disqualified until 2026.

They arrested him and also found a small bag containing cannabis on the front passenger seat.

He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he returned a reading of 0.251, more than five times the legal limit.

Due to his intoxication, the police took him home and left him with his parents.

However, court documents show, he was caught drink-driving just hours later on Menangle Rd where he blew a reading of 0.195 at about 1am.

Beesley has taken steps to address what happened including a driver education course for offenders, his lawyer said in court on Monday,

“He acknowledges that he could very well be facing a custodial sentence,” the lawyer said.

“He hasn’t just sat idly by and waited for his sentence.

“The court would have confidence he has good prospects of rehabilitation.”

The solicitor said Beesley was dealing with underlying stressors such as his father’s health, issues with access to his two children and various health diagnoses.

He urged the court to consider a sentence other than imprisonment.

The police prosecutor asked the court to note the level of danger to the community, given the high blood-alcohol reading.

“There is a need for specific deterrence and to make the defendant accountable for his actions,” he said.

Magistrate Stoddart said there was no other option than a sentence of imprisonment for Beesley, but said he would allow it to be served in the community as an intensive corrections order.

From Monday, Beesley serves the nine-month ICO and a two-year community corrections order and also faces a mandatory interlock device.

He was also fined $2000 for breaching the stay at home order and failing to carry a face covering.