Matthew Poulter, 43, of Mona Vale, was four times over the limit when he crashed on way to the gym

A lovelorn driver was four times over the limit when he crashed his car on the way to the gym after downing a few vodkas. See what happened in court.

Matthew Alan Poulter, 43, of Mona Vale, leaving Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where he was convicted of high range drink driving. He blew four times over the limit after crashing his VW into a parked Lexus at 5.20pm on a Monday. Picture: Manly Daily

A man had an argument with his ex-girlfriend, knocked back a few vodkas at home before getting behind the wheel of his SUV and headed to a nearby gym for a workout.

But Matthew Alan Poulter, 43, ended up crashing his VW into — and wrote off — a parked Lexus.

Poulter, of Mona Vale, was in Manly Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of high range drink driving.

The court heard that he was four times over the legal alcohol limit at 5.20pm on a Monday when his car speared off Maxwell St at Mona Vale

He blew 0.217 soon after at Mona Vale Police Station.

Matthew Alan Poulter, 43, of Mona Vale, leaving Manly Local Court on Wednesday. He has to complete 100 hours of community service as part of his sentence. Picture: Manly Daily

Magistrate Robyn Denes was told by Poulter’s solicitor that her client had been upset after an argument with his ex-partner who told him she was moving away from the northern beaches.

“Unfortunately, he turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism,” the solicitor said.

“He decided to drive to his gym class.

“He clearly wasn’t thinking.”

In a facts sheet tendered to court, police stated that after the collision with the Lexus, Poulter drove his vehicle to the end of Maxwell St and made a left turn into Parkland Rd before coming to a stop.

Matthew Alan Poulter, 43, of Mona Vale, as disqualified from driving for nine months and fined $1200. Picture: Manly Daily

Police discovered that both vehicles had sustained major damage and that the Lexus had been shifted onto the nature strip by the impact.

Several witnesses left their homes when they heard the sound of the crash.

Police were called after the “accused refused to get out of his vehicle”, according to the facts sheet.

When officers arrived, they found him still sitting in his car.

He told police he had knocked back a “few alcoholic drinks”.

Later at the police station, he told officers he had “about four vodka waters at his home from about 4pm”.

Magistrate Denes noted that Poulter had a high reading at 5.20pm.

“The problem is a lack of care for other people … other people on the road,” she said.

“You would not have been under the misapprehension that you weren’t over the limit.”

Poulter was convicted and jailed for 12 months, but will be allowed to serve the sentence in the community under a supervised Intensive Correction Order.

He will also have to complete 100 hours of community service and pay a $1200 fine.

Poulter was disqualified from driving for nine months.