Robert Bainbridge drink drive shame near to Silverdale home

A dad-of-three who skulled two cans of Jack Daniels before getting behind the wheel crashed just 90m from his home. But it’s what he did next with his wallet that surprised cops.

A dad-of-three crashed just 90m from his home after skulling two cans of Jack Daniels and getting behind the wheel.

Robert Bainbridge, 35, then decided to leave his wallet at the crash site before fleeing – with the court hearing he wanted the authorities to be able to find him.

On September 13, Brainbridge “skulled” two cans of Jack Daniels before getting inside his black Ford Territory at his Silverdale Rd, Silverdale home.

Robert Bainbridge leaving Penrith Local Court on October 21 after being convicted of driving with a mid-range PCA and negligent driving.

Penrith Local Court heard he drove off but then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the fence of one of his neighbours just 90m away.

He left his wallet, including his licence, at the crash site and then pushed the damaged vehicle back to his house with the help of a neighbour.

He briefly returned to the crash site and then fled.

When police arrived a group of people had gathered at the fence and handed over Bainbridge’s wallet.

Officers visited his home and spoke to his wife who said he’d left 10 minutes earlier.

He hadn’t got far and officers found him just a few hundred metres away.

Court documents reveal he told cops he left his licence at the scene so he could be found.

He was submitted to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

He was then arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station where his breath analysis returned a reading on 0.093.

The court heard it was not his first drink driving offence having been charged in 2013 with High Range PCA.

“You’re lucky you didn’t kill yourself or harm someone else,” Magistrate Fiona Toose said.

The dad-of-three pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range PCA and negligent driving (not causing grievous bodily harm).

Bainbridge admitted to “skulling two cans of Jack Daniels prior to driving”.

“Mr Bainbridge, if you keep coming before the court for drink driving, it’s clearly an issue you need to address,” the Magistrate said.

Bainbridge was convicted of driving with a mid-range PCA and sentenced to a two year Community Correction Order, expiring in October 2023. His licence is also disqualified for six months and he must hold an interlock license for 12 months.

He was fined $250 for negligent driving and ordered to pay $1000 in compensation to his neighbour for the damage to the fence.