Brenten Lloyd Wilson: Mildura drunk driver downed bottle of vodka before crash

A Mildura man has been sent to jail after downing a bottle of vodka and getting behind the wheel, before causing a serious crash.

A Mildura man faced court after last year speeding on Langtree Ave, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and colliding with another vehicle. Picture: Michael DiFabrizio

A Mildura man downed a bottle of vodka and got a mate to blow into his interlock device before speeding in the town’s CBD and hitting another car, breaking the ribs of the driver and causing internal bleeding.

Brenten Lloyd Wilson, 28, appeared at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering serious injury, driving under the influence, failing to blow into an interlock device and recklessly causing injury.

Police told the court Wilson had consumed a bottle of vodka at his brother’s house on July 12 last year before getting behind the wheel.

Wilson had an interlock device installed in his car but got a friend to blow into it so he could drive home.

He was travelling along Langtree Ave between Ninth and Tenth streets when he collided with an oncoming vehicle attempting to park near Chemist Warehouse.

Police said Wilson was observed driving an estimated 62 km/h in the busy commercial street, which has a 40 km/h limit and speed bumps.

The driver of the other vehicle spent the night at Mildura Base Hospital with broken ribs and internal bleeding.

A pedestrian who had to jump out of the way also suffered a back injury.

During a breath test after the incident Wilson blew .197, almost four times the standard legal limit.

Wilson’s lawyer said he had worked on solar farms, been a forklift driver and recently worked in processing for a juice company but lost that job after the incident.

The lawyer said Wilson understood the seriousness of the offending and was in the early stages of seeking rehabilitation.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said the injuries suffered by Wilson’s victims were “totally unnecessary”.

“You should not have been on the road, you should not have been able to drive that vehicle,” Mr Coghlan said.

“The reason for having those (interlock) laws in place is to try and stop repeat drink driving offenders from being able to drive a motor vehicle and therefore put other road users at risk.”

Mr Coghlan told Wilson he had been given chances before, referring to four community corrections orders he was given relating to alcohol abuse, including drink driving charges.

“While rehabilitation is a significant factor in any sentencing consideration, I don’t think it has much application to you as you’ve been given four goes,” Mr Coghlan said.

Wilson was convicted and sentenced to a total of six months in prison.

He was disqualified from obtaining any licence for five years.