Joseph Cussen: Repeat drink driver fled crash site in Bondi

A tequila fuelled P-plater tried to run from the scene of a nasty Bondi crash – his second drink drive offence in just months.

A repeat drink driver has fronted court and been warned “you could kill someone” after leaving a trail of destruction in Bondi.

Joseph Philip Cussen, 22, fronted Waverley Local Court on Wednesday and was sentenced for high-range drink driving – his second drink-driving offence in the space of a year.

A magistrate slammed the Bondi resident for his repeat offending and said his young age was the only reason he was not being sent to prison.

The agreed facts stated the P-plater was drinking tequila at a friend’s place on November 25 last year before he got behind the wheel of a BMW.

Joseph Cussen outside court. Picture: Adam Yip

He lost control of the car and skidded into parked cars on a narrow street on Lamrock Ave in Bondi damaging three vehicles and his own car in the process.

The agreed facts stated he ran from the scene but stopped about 100m away where a witness and police found him. Cussen was uncooperative with police and refused a breath test.

He was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where a breath analysis test returned a reading of 0.171 – over three times the legal alcohol limit for a driver on a full licence.

The alcohol limit for a P-plater is zero.

Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman said his offending showed he only cared about himself and was putting the community in danger.

“You have a previous offence and you did not learn from it. And I need to deter you,” she said.

“You are dangerous. You could kill someone.”

High range drink driver Joseph Cussen leaving Waverly Court on the 24th of February. Picture: Adam Yip

She sentenced him to a 12-month term of imprisonment to be served by way of intensive correction in the community. He must abstain from alcohol as a condition of the order.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months (to be followed by an interlock licence) and fined $900.

Cussen had earlier pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving, refuse or fail to submit to breath test, and not give particulars.

Magistrate Huntsman said he had only narrowly avoided being sent to prison.

“You need to learn whether you are 22 or not that this is not acceptable. This is criminal.

“Your young age is what stops you going into full-time custody.”

Cussen works as a sales consultant and formerly studied at UTS.