Kieran Almond: Alleged drink driver claims he got drunk after crash
When police caught up with Kieran Almond shortly after he crashed his car he blew a staggering alcohol reading. But a court has heard it’s all a big misunderstanding as Almond told a magistrate he got drunk after clambering out of the wreckage.
Southern Courier
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A man who allegedly blew a staggering reading almost five times the legal limit following a crash says he wasn’t drink driving and that he instead got drunk with his mates after clambering out of the wreckage.
Keiran Patrick Almond, 29, represented himself when he appeared before Waverley Local Court on Wednesday and offered an explanation for his high blood alcohol reading.
The Maroubra man is charged with high range drinking driving after returning a reading of 0.237 following a crash on Austral St, Malabar on July 24.
Court documents state the car was driving along Austral St at 10.45pm with police performing the test at 11.50pm.
The timeline gives him just over an hour to become significantly intoxicated.
“I’m not guilty Your Honour,” he said.
“I was driving but then I ran away from the scene and started drinking then,” Mr Almond said.
“I crashed and then went drinking with my mates.”
Magistrate Jacqueline Trad asked Mr Almond to ensure he knew the consequences of pleading not guilty and encouraged him to get legal advice.
“I will probably plead guilty Your Honour just to get it over and done with,” Mr Almond said.
Magistrate Trad insisted he think about getting legal advice and agreed to the adjournment originally asked for by Mr Almond so he can complete the traffic offenders program.
“No, no, no. High range PCA, particularly with a reading of 0.237 is a very serious matter and if it involved a crash it could possibly involve a jail sentence.
“You get your legal advice.”
The matter was adjourned until September 23 so it can marry up with a separate charge of drug possession Mr Almond is also facing.