Cobram Magistrates’ Court: Shane Clarke guilty of drink driving double the legal limit

A drunk Shepparton education officer was caught driving double the legal limit the day after a heavy drinking party at a football club.

Shane Clarke, 44, pleaded guilty to drink driving at the Cobram Magistrates’ Court on August 9.

A Shepparton man who had a big day of drinking at a football club was caught driving double the legal limit by police the next day.

Shane Clarke pleaded guilty to drink driving over the legal limit at the Cobram Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Clarke was driving in a silver Hyundai i30 on the Murray Valley Hwy and Koonoomoo Rd in Cobram when he was pulled over by police about 10am on March 5.

The 44-year-old did multiple breath tests, which eventually revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.105 — double the legal limit.

His licence was immediately suspended.

Clarke told police at the time he had consumed mixed drinks at a football club party the day before.

Clarke told the court he apologised for his actions and the loss of his licence had had a major impact on himself and his work as an education officer at the Department for Education.

He added that he had thought he was “okay” to drive.

Magistrate Alexandra Burt said Clarke’s blood alcohol reading was “fairly high” the next day.

“One of the lessons here is you can’t rely on how you’re feeling,” Ms Burt said.

“You’re a mature person and you know what the issues are.”

Ms Burt accepted his loss of licence had had an impact on him but said people who drank and drove could become “responsible for tragedies in the community”.

“Unpredictable things can happen on the road — animals can run out,” she said.

Clarke was fined $800 without conviction and his licence was disqualified for 10 months.