James Jones in Taree court for drunk driving Wingham Road crash

A mother has been challenged in court for describing her son as “responsible and conscientious” despite his two-page record and recently crashing through a front yard drunk.

Taree Police Station.

A mother has been challenged in court for describing her son, who has five speeding tickets and crashed through the front yard of a house drunk, as responsible and conscientious.

James Jones appeared in Taree Local Court on Tuesday to face sentencing after pleading guilty to mid range drink driving.

The 26-year-old was driving a Jaguar X-Type along Wingham Road at Taree about 5pm on December 14 when he smashed into a parked ute forcing it up onto the footpath it was revealed in court documents.

After smashing into the ute near the McLaughlan Ave cross street he continued south along Wingham Road crossing the dividing line into the oncoming lane.

He eventually smashed into the brick mailbox and garden fence at 42 Wingham Road with debris accumulating under the car bringing it to a stop.

James Jones with his mother at Taree court on April 16.

The owner of the blue ute he had crashed into earlier, heard the collision and called triple 0. When the paramedics arrived they had to help him from the car and into the ambulance where they treated cuts to his eyes and nose.

When police arrived they saw several cans of open Asahi beer strewn throughout the car and he smelt strongly of alcohol. When they tried to breath test him he turned away and would not give a sample.

A later blood sample returned a reading of 0.133.

Jones was taken to Port Macquarie hospital and treated for his wounds and on January 8 police went to his home to speak with him.

He told officers he had no recollection of the day and only remembered waking up in the ambulance.

When Jones appeared before Magistrate Allison Hawkins for sentencing on Tuesday she read through the supporting documents then paused to ask if his mother was in court, which she was.

Ms Hawkins asked if she was aware her son’s record when she wrote a reference describing him as responsible and conscientious.

“Responsible and conscientious? At 26 with a record that runs well over two pages and includes at least five speeding tickets I’m not sure if I can accept the mother’s reference,” Ms Hawkins said.

She described the incident as appalling.

“You could have killed someone.”

Ms Hawkins adjourned the matter to May 28 for a sentencing assessment report to better assist her in imposing an appropriate penalty.

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