Mark Reader charged with mid range drink driving in South Nowra

A south coast manufacturing worker had to be detained by nearby residents after he drunkenly ploughed into a parked car and attempted to walk away from the wreckage, a court has heard.

Mark Reader leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann.

A south coast pharmaceutical manufacturing worker was detained by other motorists after he drunkenly ran into a parked car and attempted to walk away from the wreckage, a court has heard.

Mark Reader, 42, from Sanctuary Point, faced Nowra Local Court on February 14 where he pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving after blowing more than double the limit following a crash.

Agreed facts stated Reader had consumed three full strength beers in 15 minutes to 7pm on December 18 last year before getting behind the wheel.

Reader drove onto Bellevue St in South Nowra before crashing his vehicle into a parked car.

Residents who heard the noise emerged to see Reader driving off, with some including the damaged car’s owner following him.

They pursued him to the Princes Hwy until his car stopped due to the damage.

“He continued to travel a further 100m before his car stopped due to mechanical issues caused by the crash,” police facts stated.

After attempting to get out of the vehicle, residents held him down and called police.

Police and ambulance attended the scene where Reader was checked for injuries following the crash.

He was then subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result of 0.127.

Reader was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station, where he was described as “argumentative with police during the interaction”.

“Police submit that he was well affected by alcoholic liquor,” the facts also stated.

“He was unsteady on his feet, could not walk without support, smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor, his eyes were watery and bloodshot, his pupils were enlarged and his speech was slurred.”

Representing himself, Reader apologised multiple times to Magistrate Lisa Viney in court.

“It’s something I’ll never do again,” he said.

“I’ve given up drinking as a result.”

However, Ms Viney said drink driving matters were too common in the community.

“Offences such as drink driving are unfortunately so prevalent,” she said.

Reader was convicted, disqualified for six months, issued a mandatory 12-month interlock license and fined $750.