Hillsong founder Brian Houston sent to Alcoholics Anonymous over US drink-driving incident

Controversial pastor Brian Houston has pleaded guilty to drink driving – and now his punishment has been revealed.

The founder of Hillsong Church will be forced to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the United States after pleading guilty to driving while “blackout drunk”.

Controversial pastor Brian Houston must also attend a three-month educational program for drunk drivers and meet with victims of road accidents caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol.

News Corp revealed last month that Mr Houston had been busted by police in California for driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.23 per cent – almost five times Australia’s legal limit.

He was almost three times California’s limit of 0.08 per cent, at a level of intoxication described by addiction clinic Tree House Recovery as “blackout drunk”.

Brian Houston during a Hillsong Church opening in the US before his resignation last year. Picture: Getty Images

The shocking incident occurred in February last year, about a month before Mr Houston resigned from the global megachurch he founded in the wake of an internal investigation that questioned his behaviour towards two women.

Mr Houston’s DUI case appeared set for a trial in the Superior Court of Orange County until he pleaded guilty earlier this month.

Court records obtained by News Corp reveal the counselling sessions are part of a three-year probation order.

LISTEN TO THE FAITH ON TRIAL: HILLSONG PODCAST BELOW

Mr Houston, 69, was also slapped with a $US140 ($A207) fine, but a separate charge of failing to display front and rear licence plates on his car was dismissed.

The former Hillsong leader owned up to the incident in an Instagram post last month after his defence lawyer Scott Thomas was contacted by News Corp’s Faith on Trial podcast.

He admitted he “made the foolish decision to drive just two or three hundred metres to park the car”.

“At the time it seemed like all hell had broken loose within Hillsong Church and I was under immense pressure and emotional strain. Clearly that is not an excuse, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Mr Houston said in the social media post.

“I am grateful to God that no damage or injury occurred.”

He has also previously spoken about his relationship with alcohol, rejecting “gossip and whispering and innuendo” about his drinking habits.

“The narrative that I’m an alcoholic is false. In fact, I’ve been told by an expert therapist that I do not display the behaviours that are typical of an alcoholic,” Mr Houston said.

Originally published as Hillsong founder Brian Houston sent to Alcoholics Anonymous over US drink-driving incident