The Oaks: Michael Anthony Dal Santo sentenced for drink driving with daughter in the car

A father was caught drink driving after police pulled him over for speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road with his daughter in the front seat in southwest Sydney.

Michael Anthony Dal Santo, was sentenced for mid range drink driving and speeding at 150km/h. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

A father was caught drink driving after police pulled him over for speeding at 150km/h and driving on the wrong side of the road in Sydney’s southwest.

Michael Anthony Dal Santo, 49, pleaded guilty at Picton Local Court earlier this month to mid-range drink driving, driving dangerously and driving while suspended.

Court documents state police observed Dal Santo speeding along the Camden Bypass in a Toyota Hilux about 10pm on May 18, before following him to Burragorang Rd where they recorded his speed at over 150km/h in an 80km/h speed zone.

Documents state officers witnessed the Oakdale man then cross over double lines onto the wrong side of the road and overtake three cars.

Michael Dal Santo, 49, was caught drink driving with his daughter in the front seat on their way back from a party. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Police activated their lights and directed Dal Santo to pull over before he eventually stopped on Burragorang Rd, Mount Hunter.

When asked about his speed Dal Santo said: “I didn’t think I was going quick but okay.”

Court documents state officers observed the offender’s 18-year-old daughter in the front seat and following police questioning Dal Santo confessed they had both been drinking.

A roadside breath test returned a positive reading of 0.142, with Dal Santo admitting he was driving back from a friend’s party in Sydney and had been boozing since 3pm.

Documents state police smelt alcohol on Dal Santo’s breath, was glassy-eyed and he said he believed he had around six drinks prior to being pulled over.

Police seized Dal Santo’s licence and issued him a suspension notice.

A month later, police identified Dal Santo’s car being driven on Burragorang Rd, The Oaks about 3.30pm on June 25, pulling it over under suspicion the offender was driving again.

“When asked to produce his licence Dal Santo told officers he had left it in his jacket pocket and didn’t have it on him before he finally admitted he was suspended,” court documents state.

Dal Santo tried to justify his actions by explaining that he was driving to work and needed his car because “there’s no public transport to Oakdale at 3.30am in the morning”.

Magistrate David Degnan said Dal Santo’s behaviour could lead to jail time, saying it showed a “complete disregard and abandonment of responsibility”.

Dal Santo’s lawyer Ms Green admitted the facts were “objectively horrendous” but asked Mr Degnan to take into consideration that it was his first offence.

“The community is sick and tired of people carrying on like this. Twenty per cent of fatalities on the road are from drink driving and you’ve combined it with speeding and dangerous driving, while driving with your daughter,” Mr Degnan said.

Dal Santo will be sentenced at Picton Local Court next month. Picture: Adelaide Lang

“A mid-range PCA carries jail. Don’t need anything else, it carries jail…you need to prepare yourself Mr De Santo, it’s possible you may go into custody”.

Mr Degnan told Dal Santo if he was caught behind the wheel again before his sentencing, “it would end the question of whether or not he goes to jail, it would be inevitable.”

Dal Santo will be sentenced at Picton Local Court next month.