Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Ryan O‘Halloran charged over drink driving offences

A Mildura painter was out in Wangaratta celebrating a mate’s promotion when he decided to get behind the wheel and go for a spin only to drunkenly smash into a fence.

Ryan O‘Halloran leaves Mildura Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to driving without a licence and drink driving.

A big night out celebrating a colleague’s promotion almost turned deadly for an unlicensed Mildura painter who got behind the wheel of a car and drove into a fence.

Ryan O‘Halloran was in Wangaratta for a night out when, just after midnight, he got in a car with a mate and ploughed into a fence, Mildura Magistrates’ Court heard.

Ryan O‘Halloran has pleaded guilty to get getting behind the wheel of car when he didn't have a license and being more than double the legal blood alcohol limit in the Mildura Magistrates' Court.

Police tried to interview O‘Halloran at the scene but he struggled to maintain consciousness and was taken to Wangaratta hospital.

O‘Halloran recorded blood-alcohol level of 0.133 and inquiries with VicRoads revealed he didn’t have a licence.

Once police prosecutors had read the summary, Magistrate Michael Coghlan asked O‘Halloran if he agreed and pleaded guilty to charges of driving without a licence and driving under the influence of alcohol.

“I can’t remember leaving the pub, but yeah, that sounds about right,” O‘Halloran

Mr Coghlan asked him if had anything more to say and stressed the point that if someone had been hurt in the crash he likely would have been jailed.

“I can’t remember much of it but it was very stupid,’’ he said

O‘Halloran was convicted and fined $1500 as well as suspended from holding a licence for 26 months, with Mr Coghlan warning him that if this happens again he could face up to two years in jail.