Christopher Platt: Shoalhaven Heads man jailed for drink driving crash

A south coast man has been jailed after he crashed into parked boats while five times the legal limit, causing more than $100k worth of damage, a court has heard.

Christopher Platt was jail for 12 months, seven without parole for the charge of high range drink driving.

A south coast man’s decision to get behind the wheel after downing an entire bottle of wine has seen him land in jail, after the drive while five times the limit ended in a costly crash, a court has heard.

The offence saw Christopher Platt, 37, wind up in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday charged with high range drink driving.

The Shoalhaven Heads man previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

Documents tendered to the court reveal Platt was driving his Subaru Forester in Shoalhaven Heads along Jerry Bailey Rd on August 9 last year, after drinking an entire bottle of red wine.

Agreed facts state it was during this trip that Platt lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a parked caravan which had a 6m Corsair Ripple Savage boat attached at the back.

The impact of the collision pushed the parked boat forward into a different parked vehicle, which also had a Noosa Cat 3100 boat attached.

Platt was sentenced in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday.

“The two boats and trailer have all received extensive damage and estimated the cost of repair is in the one hundreds of thousands of dollars,” agreed facts state.

The facts also reveal the boat owners were not insured.

Platt was taken to the Shoalhaven Hospital, where a blood alcohol reading returned a result of .272 – five and a half times the legal limit.

The 37-year-old man was later charged, issued a court attendance notice and had his licence suspended.

In court on Tuesday, Platt’s lawyer John Clowry asked the court for an intensive corrections order rather than full time imprisonment, citing his clients rehab, his remorse for the offence and his goal to remain sober for the rest of his life.

The crash occurred on Jerry Bailey Rd, Shoalhaven Heads.

“He came to court today knowing full well he made end up in a green jumpsuit,” he said.

However, Magistrate Lisa Viney said there were too many aggravated factors involved in the incident.

“The court needs to consider the very high reading, the crash with the boats, the damage, the time of day and the risk to the community,” she said.

Mrs Viney also cited Platt’s history, noting this was his second high range offence in the past five years and his third drink driving offence since he first got his licence 19 years ago.

Platt was ultimately sentenced to full time prison for 12 months, seven without parole and a licence disqualification for five months upon his release, taking into account the six months he has already spent off the road.

However, following the prison sentence, Mr Clowry entered a bail application, noting an appeal was submitted for April 22.

“Not to be rude to the court, but I believe this appeal will be successful,” he said.

However, Mrs Viney maintained the prison sentence given the seriousness of the offence.

Platt’s appeal will be before the District Court in April.

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