Warren Clough of North Richmond convicted over mid range PCA

A drug and alcohol counsellor for a rehab, has landed in hot water after a moment of weakness saw him get behind the wheel after one too many drinks.

Warren Clough outside Mt Druitt Local Court

A drug and alcohol counsellor, whose “life calling” is to help others with their troubles, has landed in hot water after being caught drink driving.

Warren Clough, 34 of North Richmond appeared to Mount Druitt Local Court after pleading guilty to mid range drink driving, which was a second offence.

The court heard in 2019, Clough was convicted over a high range drink driving offence, to which he was sentenced to an intensive corrections order for 21 months with the condition he abstain from alcohol.

It was following this offence Clough joined a rehabilitation program where he was “an outstanding pupil” and became a lead counsellor. Upon completing the 12-month program Clough realised it was his “life calling” to help others with their drug and alcohol struggles and began working as a counsellor.

However, on January 15, after receiving some upsetting news about a family member, Clough “weakened” and “fell off the wagon”, and downed a few beers at night and into the morning, his lawyer said.

The next morning at about 9:45am, Clough, who was in a “very depressed state” got behind the wheel of his car and was driving in Whalan, before being pulled over by police and subjected to a breath test, which returned a mid-range reading of 0.90.

Mt Druitt Local Court

According to court documents, Clough then told police he’d had about “five to six long necks of Victoria Bitter” the night before, having had the last one just before 2:30am. Police observed him as “being slightly affected” with “watery and glazed eyes”.

Clough’s lawyer told the court his client was remorseful with a low risk of re-offending and it was his “motivation in life to help others.”

In sentencing, Magistrate Chisholm told Clough in stern words, his challenges with drinking in no way explained his choice to drive and endanger community safety.

“You’ve made poor decisions which have ultimately led to people’s lives being put at risk. I note the steps you’ve taken to help yourself and others with similar problems yet we are still here again.”

Clough was convicted and fined one thousand dollars and sentenced to a community 18 months