Magistrate sentences man over drink-driving accident which left him a paraplegic
A MAGISTRATE has told a court the tragic consequences of getting behind the wheel drunk could not be clearer, as he sentenced a wheelchair-bound man for drink-driving.
South East
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A MAGISTRATE has told a court the tragic consequences of riding while drunk could not be clearer as he sentenced a wheelchair-bound man for drink-driving.
Darren Raymond Knight, 46, of Frankston North, pleaded guilty to driving offences at Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard Knight, who didn’t have a licence, and a group of friends had gone dirt-bike riding in forests near Yarram on June 10 last year.
They had had a few beers around the campfire before Knight took one of the bikes and went for a ride.
He was travelling along the road at around 4.30pm when he had a catastrophic accident, losing control and flipping over the handlebars.
The bike landed on his back, smashing his vertebrae.
Police attended and an ambulance was called, and as they loaded him into a helicopter to be flown to The Alfred, he told them “he couldn’t feel his legs”.
Blood was taken, which would later be backdated to an alcohol reading of between .152 and .204.
He admitted drinking, but said he didn’t believe he would have been over the limit.
He said “stupidity” had led to him getting on the bike and riding while under the influence of alcohol.
The former boilermaker is now a paraplegic.
Magistrate Timothy Gattuso said no punishment he could hand out would compare to the penalty Knight had already imposed on himself.
“This was a completely life-changing experience,” Mr Gattuso said.
“It is an absolute tragedy what has happened to you.”
As more cases were heard, Mr Gattuso referred back to Knight’s tragic case.
“You saw the gentleman here on a drink-driving charge in a wheelchair,” he told other defendants.
“He had an accident, fractured his spine; (he) is now a paraplegic.
“No-one plans in these things (accidents) happening…. (but) the chances increase dramatically when drugs or alcohol are involved.”
Knight was given the minimum driving ban of 15 months and a much lower than usual fine of $250.