Christopher Douglas of Lalor jailed for shocking crimes, driving offences
A Lalor man has had to answer for a terrible driving history spanning more than 14 years. And he’s already spent time in jail for more shocking offences.
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A Lalor man who is in jail for shocking crimes has also had to answer for a shocking driving history spanning more than 14 years.
Christopher Douglas has repeatedly been caught drink driving and driving while disqualified and has refused to be breath tested multiple times since 2006, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court heard.
Magistrate Denise Livingstone said the only option for Douglas was a jail sentence when he pleaded guilty to his latest driving charges from 2019 and 2018 on Wednesday, August 5.
Douglas is already serving a five-month sentence for shocking offences, which is due to end on October 28.
The court heard he first lost his licence for drink driving in 2006 when he refused to accompany police to a station to do a breath test, and had been caught driving on a disqualified licence and drink driving numerous times since.
In 2015 he was caught with a blood-alcohol content level of .124 and in 2018 he again refused to accompany police to do a breath test when he was caught driving while disqualified on Whitford St, Glenroy.
The court heard Douglas was facing a minimum mandatory licence loss of four years for the offences.
Senior Constable Lauren Wilson said after “many, many years of previous offences” Douglas needed specific deterrence to stop him getting back on the road in the next 48 months.
Douglas, who appeared without a lawyer, said he had used alcohol to medicate his anxiety.
He said his life had gone downhill since his first licence loss in 2006, and he had been involved in a car accident.
He said at almost 40 it was time he “grew up”, and wanted to return to working as a plasterer, pleading for Ms Livingstone to return his licence as soon as possible.
She sentenced him to four months’ jail, with two months to be served concurrently with his existing sentence.
Ms Livingstone cancelled his licence for four years, saying it would normally be a longer period but she understood he wanted to enhance his chances of employment.
Douglas was also asked to surrender his car, which he agreed to do.
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