Mitchell Wyton, 26, of Newport: Boatie caught drunk behind the wheel dives into Pittwater to escape cops

A drunk northern beaches’ boatie, who tangled a luxury motor cruiser around a mooring cable, dived into Pittwater to escape the Water Police. See what happened in court

Mitchell James Wyton, 26, of Newport, was convicted in Manly Local Court on Wednesday, for operating a vessel with a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and; resisting police in the execution of their duty. Picture: Facebook

A drunken marine electrician was caught three times over the alcohol limit while piloting a luxury motorboat that he got snagged on a mooring rope on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mitchell Wyton, 26, then made a desperate escape bid from police by jumping off a Church Point marina balcony into Pittwater.

Wyton, who lives with his parents at Newport, then hid in the water behind the hull of a docked boat until the police talked him into giving himself up.

He blew 0.154, Manly Local Court heard on Wednesday.

Police were called, at 5.40pm on December 9 last year, after worried boaties at the Quays Marina in Church Point saw a Halvorsen motor cruiser “swinging in circles” near the dock.

Mitchell James Wyton, 26, of Newport, was convicted in Manly Local Court on Wednesday, for blowing 0.154 while operating a motor cruiser on Pittwater. Picture: Facebook

Officers saw Wyton, dressed only in a pair of shorts and with a cut over his right eye, behind the wheel of the vessel, continually going full throttle as he tried to untangle the boat from the mooring cable, according to an agreed set of facts tendered to court.

Broken Bay Water Police ordered him to shut the engine off as they tried to pull alongside, but he told them: “Please, please, I just need to get to my mooring over there”.

After officer managed to get aboard the Halvorsen, they found a “large amount” of empty beer and spirit bottles.

Mitchell James Wyton, 26, of Newport, after being convicted in Manly Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Manly Daily

Wyton told officers he thought four people were on the vessel with him. But police found no other passengers on-board.

He was taken by police launch to the nearby Holmeport Marina were they waited for a police breath testing bus to arrive.

The court heard that Wyton managed to break free from an officer’s grasp and jumped over a balcony railing into Pittwater before swimming away.

Mitchell James Wyton, 26, lost his boat licence for 12 months. Picture: Facebook

He pleaded guilty to one count each of operate vessel with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and: hinder or resist police in execution of their duty.

His solicitor Simon Long told the court that Wyton had built a reputation for being a skilled marine technician and had been attending alcohol rehabilitation meetings since the incidents.

Wyton already had two serious drink driving convictions on his record.

Quays Marina, Church Point where Mitchell Wyton was caught drunk while piloting a vessel. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Margaret McGlynn told him that given his record, a term of imprisonment was required.

“There was enormous potential for danger to other members of the community … and a complete lack of understanding of what you were doing,” Ms McGlynn said.

Wyton was convicted and sentenced to 12 months, but Ms McGlynn said he could serve that jail time in the community, under a supervised Intensive Correction Order.

He must also complete 100 hours of community service and his boat licence was cancelled for 12 months.