Peter McMann sentenced after excessive speed and drink driving charges in Port Stephens
A Hunter Magistrate has got stuck into a man for his “appalling” behaviour on the roads after he was caught drink driving at more than double the speed limit in Port Stephens in April.
Newcastle
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A Hunter Magistrate has given a man an absolute spray about his behaviour on the roads, calling him a “menace” and telling him “the fact someone wasn’t killed was just good luck”.
Peter McMann, 51, from Soldier’s Point was more than twice the legal limit when he was clocked by police at more than 80km/h over the speed limit on April 11 at Bobs Farm.
The police radar recorded Mr McMann at doing 163km/h in an 80 zone on Nelson Bay road, overtaking several vehicles before police finally pulled him up.
“I wasn’t speeding,” he said according to police facts.
But talking to Mr McMann police noticed he was “well affected” by alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and became increasingly hostile and derogatory towards police.
A breath test then revealed a positive reading of 0.119.
Mr McMann was charged with drive recklessly, excess speed over 45km/h and drink driving.
The court heard the 51-year-old had four drink driving offences since 1998, his most previous conviction in 2016.
“The facts are appalling, the speed you were driving and the way you were behaving,” Magistrate Brett Shields said at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday.
“You’re a danger to everybody else on the road.
“We cannot have people doing this type of thing, you have put yourself in a very difficult situation.
“You cannot be on the road if you’re going to behave like this.”
Mr McMann was sentenced to a 14 month intensive corrections order (ICO) - a jail term served within the community - and disqualified from driving for three years.
He’ll also have to install a mandatory interlock for 24 months when back on the road and was also fined $3300.