Paul Bromhead: Allambie Heights ATM crash driver back in court
A man who allegedly crashed into a pedestrian as he was using an ATM has been back before court.
Manly
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A driver who allegedly was drunk when he crashed into a pedestrian had previously had his licence suspended for high-range drink driving, a court has heard.
Paul Bromhead, 59 is alleged to have been more than two times over the limit when he was behind the wheel of his car when it struck the man at Allambie Heights on January 22.
However, the state’s independent prosecuting authority has decided not to prosecute the man and will leave the case to be dealt with by Manly Local Court.
Lachlan Moore, 20, a former student at St Augustine’s College at Brookvale, was using the cash machine to withdraw money for a take away meal for his family.
Mr Moore, of Allambie Heights, suffered a broken leg and other lower limb injuries. He had to undergo surgery.
Manly Local Court was told on Thursday that the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised police that it does not want to prosecute the case and that the case remain in the Local Court, where potential penalties are less harsh.
The DPP prosecutes serious crimes, called indictable offences, under NSW law on behalf of the community.
Most serious criminal cases are prosecuted in the District or Supreme Court, but some can be dealt with in the Local Court where there are limits on the penalties an offender can receive.
Manly Local Court had previously heard that Mr Bromhead, a pensioner from Allambie Heights, already had his licence suspended for a previous high-range drink driving offence.
The allegedly unregistered and uninsured car he was allegedly driving mounted the footpath on Grigor Pl about 7pm.
Witnesses said it appeared the Skoda station wagon, which had been attempting to park with its front end to the kerb, allegedly lurched forward and struck Mr Moore.
The Westpac ATM is outside a bottle shop on the corner of Grigor Pl and Allambie Rd, about 200m from Mr Bromhead’s home.
Documents tendered to court said Mr Bromhead had allegedly been drinking white wine — sauvignon blanc — prior to the incident.
Mr Bromhead is currently disqualified from holding a licence due to a prior charge of high-range drink driving, the documents said.
Mr Bromhead was given a roadside breath test before he was taken to Frenchs Forest Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath test reading of 0.107.
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive under the influence, negligent driving (occasioning grievous bodily harm), drive with middle range PCA, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and, use unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.
Mr Bromhead, who has been in custody since his arrest, has yet to enter a plea on any of the charges.
He did not apply for bail and did not appear in court.
Magistrate Mark Richardson ordered him to return to Manly Local Court, via video link, on February 27, for plea or mention.