Mark Cruickshank: Drink driver smashed into Forster bowlo

A repeat drink driver and betting guru guzzled a dozen beers before getting behind the wheel of his car and smashing into a suburban bowlo.

A repeat drink driver sank more than a dozen drinks before crashing through a bowling club’s fence.

Mark Cruickshank, 39, who is a well-known figure in the betting world, was jailed for what a court heard was his fourth such offence.

He is regarded as a betting authority who has had a long career with high-profile gambling companies including William Hill, Ladbrokes, Betchoice and Unibet.

Cruickshank currently works as the head of marketing and partnerships at gambling start-up Punt Club.

He first came to the attention of police in January 2001 when he was charged with mid-range drink driving.

The Woolooware man was subsequently busted for high range drink driving in June 2002, driving while suspended in July 2002, mid range drink driving in August 2009 and finally again in July last year.

Agreed police facts reveal Cruickshank blew 0.159 – more than three times the legal limit – after a house party in Forster on the state’s mid-north coast on July 26 last year.

Repeat drink driver Mark Cruickshank.

“The accused was driving northbound along Strand St in Forster when he lost control of his vehicle,” agreed police facts state.

“The vehicle mounted the western kerb and continued on with the front of the vehicle colliding with the brick fence bordering the Forster Bowling Club.”

Cruickshank later told police he had 12 to 14 beers and wines at the party before driving.

At Sutherland Local Court Magistrate Joy Boulos sentenced Cruickshank to eight month jail with a non-parole period of four months.

“What’s it going to take – do you have to kill someone, because nothing has deterred you in the past,” Ms Boulos told Cruickshank.

Mark Cruickshank pictured several years ago

“What your record suggests to me is that you can hold it together for a while but until you address this underlying issue there’s a real risk to the community that you will keep reoffending.”

A dejected Cruickshank was handcuffed and taken to the cells at Sutherland Local Court.

“You made the deliberate, selfish decision to get behind the wheel and drive, and you know what the consequences are,” Ms Boulos said.

“Protection of the community is paramount and this sentencing assessment report says that you have no insight into your offending.”

Cruickshank was granted bail by Ms Boulos to appeal his sentence in the District Court in the coming weeks and will be subject to conditions akin to house arrest until then.

He has also been ordered to seek a mental health care treatment plan and rehabilitation for alcohol addiction.