Disability support worker Samuel Antony Ewin fired over Kelso drink drive offence
A Townsville disability support worker has lost his job after being arrested blind drunk by police in his own front yard. His defence lawyer explained how the shocking mistake came about.
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A disability support worker has lost his job and his drivers licence after being arrested by police in his own front yard with an astronomical blood alcohol reading.
Samuel Antony Ewin, 37, pleaded guilty to high range drink driving in Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 23.
According to Ewin’s lawyer Samuel Bogotto, the 37-year-old was apparently “putting the keys into his own home” when police officers intercepted him and breath tested him at 1.30am on June 15.
The test returned a 0.251 reading – five times the legal driving limit.
The court heard the police officers had been told Ewin was driving drunk and went to intercept him, only to see him pulling into his own driveway.
“Police observed him to be unsteady on his feet and they could smell alcohol,” police prosecutor Lennon Stathoulis said.
“He couldn’t remember how many drinks he’d consumed, but it was approximately between ‘three-quarters of a 1L bottle of Canadian Club’.”
The court heard Ewin had started working in the care industry in 2017, and had lost his employment as a disability worker because of the arrest.
“He has an ‘on-and-off again’ relationship with alcohol... he was sober for a period of time until Christmas this year where he fell into the trappings of liquor once more,” Mr Bogotto said of his client.
“On the night of this offending he was with his partner at a house when they had an argument and he was asked to leave. In his inebriated state he did not think to take more responsible methods of transport.”
“They (police) intercepted him while he was putting the keys into his own home, on his driveway.”
“He concedes he was very lucky to have not caused any property damage or injury to road users.”
Ewin tended a letter from his GP and a character reference from one of his client’s mothers supporting him.
Magistrate Richard Lehmann fined Ewin $2500, disqualified him from driving for 15 months, and recorded the conviction.
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Originally published as Disability support worker Samuel Antony Ewin fired over Kelso drink drive offence
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