Barry Jefferies: Culburra Beach man guilty of mid-range drink driving

A drunk man’s booze run ended in disaster after he failed to exit the car park, instead nearly colliding with a pedestrian before smashing into the bottle-o’s wall.

Barry Jefferies left Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to mid range. Picture: Tom McGann.

A drunk man’s booze run ended in disaster after he failed to drive out of the car park, instead nearly colliding with a pedestrian before smashing into the bottle-o’s wall after his foot became stuck on the accelerator.

Barry Jefferies, 71, of Culburra Beach, faced Nowra Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving.

Police documents tendered to the court reveal on the morning of May 6, Jefferies parked his Holden Astra in the parking lot of a BWS before purchasing alcohol.

When leaving, the court heard Jefferies’ foot became stuck on the accelerator prompting the car to speed forward and smash into the wall of the business.

“As a result of this, (Jeffries) narrowly missed a pedestrian, caused damage to the building and caused the BWS business to shut down,” agreed facts state.

Jefferies attended Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, charged with mid-range drink driving.

Jefferies crashed his car into the BWS at Culburra Beach.

Jeffries told the court on Tuesday he didn’t nearly collide with a pedestrian, however accepted he had read the police facts tendered to court and accepted the events detailed.

Police attended the incident and Jefferies provided a breath test, returning a positive reading of .118. He was arrested and taken to Nowra police station where he returned a second positive reading and his licence was suspended.

Magistrate Lisa Viney asked Jefferies if he had completed the traffic offenders program, as it would “help your sentencing decision”. The 71-year-old said he had planned to complete the program but was robbed and assaulted on the planned date.

Jefferies told the court he needed his licence to visit his sick brother.

“That is probably why I drove with alcohol in my system,” he said. “I have been very stressed.”

The court heard he had an “excellent” driving record with this matter his only offence.

The matter was adjourned until July 11 to allow Jefferies to complete the traffic offenders program.