Vishal Sajeev Thiru: Sentenced for drink driving on New Year’s Day

New Year celebrations rapidly turned sour for a drunk man who ploughed into a parked Audi just 15 minutes after the midnight fireworks, later telling police he didn’t know how much booze he had consumed.

New Year celebrations rapidly turned sour for a western Sydney man who ploughed into a parked Audi, later telling police he didn’t know how much booze he had consumed.

Vishal Sajeev Thiru, 21, of St Marys, pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol on February 17 at Penrith Local Court.

Vishal Sajeev Thiru pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range PCA on February 17 at Penrith Local Court.

About 12.15am on January 1, Thiru drove a Nissan Maxima along Cadda Ridge Drive, Caddens.

Court documents state he drove past the Valencia St intersection for about 100m, until the road veered left.

The drunken 21-year-old failed to navigate the bend and lost control, crossing onto the incorrect side of the road and smashing into a parked red Audi.

His Maxima kept moving for about 100m before it stopped.

Both vehicles suffered extensive damage with Thiru’s requiring towing, according to court facts.

Police officers arrived on scene about 12:30am to find Thiru was still in the driver‘s seat. He was breath tested and was provided a positive alcohol reading.

Thiru told police officers he had been at his friend’s house party and couldn’t remember how long he had been drinking, the police facts state.

He was arrested and taken to St Marys police station for breath analysis which returned a reading of 0.120.

Thiru’s lawyer said his client was remorseful.

Vishal Thiru’s lawyer said he was remorseful after he crashed into a parked Audi on New Years.

“He looks back in horror at allowing himself to drive … I’d invite the court to deal with him without enforcing the most serious penalty,” he said.

The police prosecutor disagreed and told the court a community corrections order, with or without a conviction, wasn’t a suitable punishment.

Magistrate David O’Neil delivered a sobering message with his verdict.

“You’re very lucky. Sometimes when things go wrong with cars, circumstances can get very chaotic which you will learn about in the course,” he said.

Thiru was convicted, sentenced to a 15-month community corrections order with the condition he complete the traffic offenders program, and fined $400.

His licence was disqualified for four months and he must hold an interlock drivers licence for the 12 months following.