Bundoora concreter Robert Paolacci pleads guilty to drink-driving, drug-driving

Using illicit drugs for “pain purposes” proved a costly decision for a Melbourne tradie using his handyman skills after-hours.

A Bundoora man was in the “pits of despair” when he got behind the wheel with multiple drugs in his system, a court has heard.

Robert Paolacci, 53, tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.055 BAC after police pulled him over on Bent St, Bundoora on his way to a friend’s house in May 2019.

The father of five and concreter by trade faced Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to driving while exceeding the prescribed concentration of drugs, and driving while exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol.

Robert Paolacci pleaded guilty to two charges following a police intercept in Bundoora in 2019. File photo

The court heard Paolacci drank three cans of Wild Turkey and smoked a marijuana joint before getting in his daughter’s boyfriend’s car to go and “help someone” about 11.45pm on May 13.

He admitted to police at the time he had smoked the joint about 10pm for “pain purposes” and that he had used methamphetamine “about a week” prior.

Defence lawyer Christopher Pearson told the court Paolacci had been using drugs at the time of the offending to help cope with the sudden death of his long-term partner — the mother of his children — from the auto-immune disease lupus in 2017.

He decided to drive because “a quadriplegic lady” that lived nearby needed him to fix her washing machine, Mr Pearson said.

“He sets off on a pushbike, realises he needs his tools so he goes back to his house, gets in a car, and is almost instantaneously pulled over by the police.

“It proves you don’t have to be dead to be stiff.”

The court heard Paolacci had prior convictions for failing drug tests in 2015 and 2017. His licence was disqualified in 2017 and he had failed to renew it despite being eligible to do so.

Mr Pearson said his client had been returning drug-free results in twice-weekly tests by the DHHS, and was keen to put his “issues” behind him.

“He went through a period where he was in the pits of despair and he found solace in drugs, particularly cannabis.

“He has struggled since the death of his partner but he wants to get back to work as soon as possible … wants to do the right thing by his children.”

Magistrate Timothy Hoare acknowledged not having a licence would cause Paolacci difficulties earning an income and caring for the four of his children still living at home.

Mr Hoare imposed the mandatory minimum 24-month licence cancellation, and a $1000 fine.