Neo Molise: Shoalhaven man busted drink driving twice in one night

A drink driver busted swerving across lanes with no headlights after a boozy night at a south coast pub, was busted a mere hours later committing the exact same offence despite a newly received licence suspension.

Neo Molise leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

A concreter busted drink driving without his headlights on after a boozy night at a south coast pub, was caught in the act again by the same officers just hours later, a court has heard.

Neo Molise, 45, was drinking “a couple of beers” at the Berry Hotel, in Berry north of Nowra, on the evening of October 18, 2024, before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep and swerving down the Princes Highway, documents tendered to the Nowra Local Court reveal.

The agreed facts state police officers patrolling the area at 9.40pm saw the Cambewarra man swerving in and out of lanes while his headlights were switched off.

The reckless nature of his driving led to police pulling him over, where they soon-after smelt the strong scent of alcohol emitting from the 45-year-old’s vehicle and breath.

Agreed facts reveal the officers also discovered an open beer bottle in the car.

Neo Molise was sentenced in the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A breath test was conducted, returning a positive result of .093.

Molise was taken to the Nowra Police Station where a secondary test confirmed the result.

Agreed facts state Molise was charged with mid range drink driving and saw his licence suspended.

Molise appeared in the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to the charge.

However, the court heard this was not Molise’s only drink driving offence on the October evening, with the Cambewarra man being busted by the same police just hours later.

Agreed facts state at 12.07am the next morning, the police officers spotted Molise’s Jeep travelling along Moss Vale Rd, Bomaderry, pulling the car over again.

Neo Molise was busted drink driving twice in the same night. Picture: Tom McGann

Molise justified his decision to get behind the wheel mere moments after his licence was suspended by stating he had to take his car home.

Police explained to Molise, who was still intoxicated, the law did not work this way.

A new breath test returned another positive result, albeit slightly lower than the first, at .092.

Molise was taken to the Nowra Police Station again, where another test confirmed the new reading. He was charged with another count of mid-range drink driving and driving with a suspended licence.

The 45-year-old man also pleaded guilty to these charges in the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday.

Before sentencing, Molise’s lawyer, Daryl Quirk, asked the court to consider his clients limited record.

“[Molise] works as a concreter and needs a licence to be able to get to various jobs across the south coast,” he said.

However, Magistrate Lisa Viney said the case was a serious example of drink driving.

“You were swerving with no headlights on a road with no street lights,” she said.

“Then, hours later, you drank drove again.”

Despite submissions from his lawyer, Molise was convicted, sentenced to a 12 month community correction order, had his licence disqualified for six months and was fined $1550.

Molise was also ordered to have an interlock device installed into his car for 12 months.

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