Matthew Ibrahim, M4 Auburn: Sentenced after driving drunk
At a time when a dad-to-be should have stepped up, he became a “ticking time bomb’’ and had a “brain snap’’ when he got behind the wheel drunk on the M4.
Parramatta
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When Merrylands West man and dad-to-be Matthew Ibrahim lost his job because of the coronavirus, his life collapsed and the “ticking time bomb’’ embarked on a drunken meltdown at Granville police station, a court has heard.
The 29-year-old faced Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday to be sentenced after he pleaded guilty for speeding down the M4 while drunk just after 1am on Saturday, July 4.
Ibrahim was charged with exceeding the speed limit over 45km/h, refusing breath analysis, using an unregistered vehicle and using an uninsured vehicle.
Ibrahim submitted a positive breath analysis when police stopped his westbound Ford Ranger ute, which was clocked doing 143km/h in a 90km/h zone.
But he refused a subsequent test at Granville police station when “he would only count
into a device”.
After the third request, police facts revealed he would only do it if the breath analysis operator underwent a COVID test.
Police facts revealed he yelled at police, started banging the door irrationally while being “unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and bloodshot, his speech was slurred, he continuously made claims that he had been assaulted by police after refusing the breath analysis’’.
This week, Ibrahim’s lawyer told the court his client accepted his behaviour was selfish and it was only through good fortune that nothing worse happened on the road.
“Frankly, he was a ticking time bomb’’ he said.
He said Ibrahim had a brain snap from financial stress when his construction business decimated, triggering him to gamble and become a heavy drinker, despite having a pregnant wife at home.
“At a time when he should have stepped up, he withdrew. On this evening, he drove away and walked off. He accepts entirely his wrongdoing.’’
He said Ibrahim had undertaken a traffic offenders rehabilitation program and was ashamed after his family, friends, fellow churchgoers and clients read about his offences.
Magistrate Tim Keady told Ibrahim he came close to landing behind bars after having no respect for public safety.
“That’s something to remember for the future,’’ he said.
“Putting yourself at risk is one thing, by your behaviour putting everyone else at risk is quite another. Fundamentally, what has to change is your attitude.’’
He said the expectant father should have stepped up and hopes parenthood will mature him.
He was disqualified for driving for nine months and must hold an interlock for two years, fined $4300 and received a community correction order for 18 months.
He was also sentenced for stealing a $580 Burberry T-shirt at Mascot in March, an offence for which he received a 12-month community release order.