Coogee man Angus Duff convicted over mid range drink driving in North Bondi

A university student driving home from the pub in Sydney’s east had consumed eight beers before crashing into a car and injuring a heavily pregnant woman, a court heard.

A university student crashed into a car while driving home from the pub drunk, injuring a heavily pregnant woman, a court heard.

Coogee man Angus Duff, 22, faced Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of driving with a mid range PCA.

Agreed facts state the business student was driving home from East’s Rugby Club in Rose Bay around 10pm on March 22, when he slammed into a Mazda at North Bondi.

The Mazda was turning left into a driveway on Blair St with Duff failing to stop in time causing “significant damage” to the rear of the car, agreed facts stated.

A 34-year-old “heavily pregnant” woman sitting in the passenger seat was injured as a result of the crash.

Angus Duff leaves Waverley Local Court.

After complaining of pain to her womb, shoulder and hip, she was later taken to Prince of Wales hospital by ambulance, facts state.

Some time later police driving in the area noticed the two vehicles surrounded by “debris on the road” and stopped to investigate.

The court heard Duff was of good character with a “commendable work ethic”.

Both drivers were given roadside breath tests, with the driver of the Mazda blowing zero while Duff registered a reading of 0.125 and was arrested.

Duff told officers he was returning from the pub where he had “four or five schooners”, the last one being at 9pm, agreed facts state.

He also said he had been driving “40 in a 50 zone” and did not see the Mazda pull up.

Duff was taken to Waverley Police station for further breath analysis, where he told police he’d had around eight cans of super dry that evening, the last one being at 9.45pm.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Stephen Barlow said the outcome was “not a huge step from a fatality” which would be “catastrophic”.

“It’s not a huge step from that outcome to a fatality. If there had been a fatality you don’t need legal advice, you know that would be catastrophic,” he said

“You are a relatively inexperienced driver, you probably had a bit of bravado in you as well, being well into the mid range at the upper end.”

In sentencing, Magistrate Barlow said while Duff was “impressive” with prior good character and a “commendable work ethic”, the court had to send a message of general deterrence to the community.

“You’re young, you’re impressive, boarding school, rugby,” he said.

“You’ve done a lot in terms of contributing admirable, memorable work. You’re going through that stage of life.

“Unfortunately drink driving puts people in hospital so a lot of that good stuff in your personal life, while relevant, doesn’t carry an enormous amount of weight with how I deal with you, that’s because of general deterrence.”

Duff was sentenced to a six month community corrections order with a three month licence suspension, after which he will have a mandatory interlock device for 12 months.