Philip Pasfield: Sydney radiologist sentenced for drink driving

A Sydney radiologist with an “impressive” career and a history of drink driving crashed into cars, a sign and then a tree while almost three times the legal alcohol limit, a court has heard.

Philip Pasfield, 64, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving and failing to submit to a breath test. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A radiologist has narrowly avoided jail after he crashed into multiple cars, a sign and then a tree while almost three times over the blood alcohol limit.

Repeat drink driver Philip Pasfield, 64, made an unusual appeals application on Thursday after he was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court earlier in the day.

He pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving and failing to submit to a breath test.

Pasfield from Milsons Point was driving his black Alfa Romeo sedan north on the Princes Hwy, between Appin Rd and Jennings Rd, at Heathcote about 5pm on March 27.

A witness observed the Alfa swerving across the road, police state in court documents.

The car did not maintain a constant speed and varied between 60km/h and 130km/h in a 110km/h speed zone.

When the Alfa reached the Jennings Rd intersection, Pasfield tried to perform a U-turn.

He crashed into a parked Ford Falcon before the Alfa continued on and hit a ‘no parking’ sign.

Pasfield then drove across the road, struck a bin, mounted the kerb and drove along a footpath before he crashed into another parked car.

Pasfield reappeared in court later in the day.

The luxury car then struck a tree and could not be driven due to the damage.

Nearby residents heard the crash, checked on Pasfield and smelt alcohol.

He appeared confused and disorientated, the court documents state.

Police arrived a short time later and Pasfield needed to undertake a roadside breath test.

He was given five attempts, but only blew gently into the device and a reading could not be obtained at the roadside.

Officers noted Pasfield’s clothing was dishevelled, he was swaying, his eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred.

Pasfield claimed to have only consumed alcohol the night prior, but he was arrested.

He said he had a medical condition that caused alcohol to leave his system more slowly.

At Sutherland Police Station, Pasfield told officers he drank a beer at the airport earlier in the day, as well as two glasses of wine while on the plane.

Pasfield returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.145 – just below a high-range reading.

The court heard he had previous drink driving convictions, including in the high-range, in 2004 and 2014.

Pasfield’s barrister Sophie Walsh told the court her client had started seeing a psychiatrist and began treatment for alcohol abuse disorder prior to the offending.

She said Pasfield’s rehabilitation included attending a full-time program and seeing a psychologist, as well as using Alcoholics Anonymous and other substance abuse programs.

The court heard Pasfield has been abstaining from alcohol and rehabilitating.

Ms Walsh said Pasfield took medication and could not remember how much alcohol he consumed the night before the crash, but conceded it had been a lot.

She said Pasfield was driving to his holiday home after returning from New Zealand, but felt sick and attempted to turn back.

Ms Walsh said Pasfield was abstinent from alcohol and had been off the road for 10 months.

She said full time custody would disrupt the rehabilitation of the doctor with an “impressive” career, who helped the community.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said Pasfield had made “very positive steps” and determined he should serve jail-time wholly in the community.

Pasfield was placed on a seven-month intensive correction order, including 100 hours of community service.

Later in the day, Pasfield lodged an appeal against the severity of the sentence, representing himself.

He asked Mr Stewart for bail so he could go to Sri Lanka to sell a holiday house.

He said repairs had to be organised in person because it was a “third world country” and bizarrely asked Mr Stewart to discuss the matter in the “chambers”.

Pasfield told the court he lodged the appeal because he did not agree with legal advice.

He was free to leave the courtroom.

The appeal is due to be heard in Downing Centre District Court on March 19.