James Stewart-Hawkins: Pub worker drink-drives after Dry July ‘golden ticket’
He worked in a pub, he should have known better. But when this Ettamogah man got a ‘golden ticket’ in Dry July, he just couldn’t help himself.
Albury Wodonga
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A ‘golden ticket’ changed the course of James Peirce Stewart-Hawkins’ life after what was meant to be a quiet dinner turned into a big night out at the pub.
Participating in Dry July, the 27-year-old drove to an Albury pub on July 15, not planning to drink, until his mate bought him a golden ticket, a fundraising initiative to give Dry July participants a night off.
Stewart-Hawkins consumed three pints (1.7l) of “boutique” beer with a 13 per cent alcohol level, before making the poor decision to get in the car and drive the 15km home to his Ettamogah residence.
Between 3.30am and 3.35am Stewart-Hawkins was driving along Central Reserve Rd when he swerved to miss a kangaroo and collided with a tree, causing his Audi A7 to roll and catch alight.
Stewart Hawkins called emergency services who arrived shortly after.
Stewart-Hawkins returned a blood alcohol ready more than three times the legal limit at 0.167.
The pub worker faced Albury Local Court this week charged with high range drink driving.
Stewart-Hawkins’ defence solicitor said this was the accused’s first major traffic incident and that he been suffering from anxiety attacks whenever he set foot in a vehicle since the crash.
Police prosecutor Andrew Coombs pointed out the severity of the incident involving a high-range blood alcohol reading and a collision.
Magistrate Richard Funston said he was confused by the whole ordeal.
“I think there’s something a little odd about a person going out for dinner, then a friend purchasing this golden ticket,” Magistrate Funston said.
“They do great work so I don’t want to be seen as being critical of Dry July, but I’m not a fan of the golden ticket.”
Magistrate Funston sentenced Stewart-Hawkins to a 12-month Community Corrections Order and disqualified him from driving for eight months.
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