Palmerston landscaper Shay Maple-Harradine drives through pub fence after Cazalys session

A Top End landscaper who drove through a pub fence after an afternoon on the sauce says a security guard who kicked him out potentially saved his life two days before Christmas. What happened in court.

Palmerston landscaper Shay Maple-Harradine was fined $600 in the Darwin Local Court after driving through a fence at Cazalys on December 23 last year.

A Top End landscaper who drove through a pub fence after an afternoon on the sauce says a security guard who kicked him out potentially saved his life two days before Christmas.

Shay Maple-Harradine pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court to high-range drink-driving after blowing more than four times the limit outside Cazalys in Palmerston on December 23 last year.

The court heard the 28-year-old new father was removed from the venue by security shortly after 6pm before he got into a white HiLux and proceeded to drive through the pub’s fence.

The security guards called police.

Maple-Harradine recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.217.

Representing himself, Maple-Harradine told Judge Sue Oliver he had gone to the pub “just to have a couple of drinks” on the way home but “ended up consuming more than I thought”.

He said he had planned to leave his car at the venue for the night and walk home and had no memory of being removed from the premises.

“I didn’t know I got kicked out of the venue, I was reading that earlier but I’m assuming that was all true,” he said.

Shay Maple-Harradine recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.217 after an afternoon session at Cazalys two days before Christmas.

“Honestly after catching up with a friend there, it escalated and I ended up having a lot more drinks than I obviously anticipated.

“Then for some reason obviously my mind was changed and I got into the car but I’m happy the security guard sort of stopped me in my tracks where I was or it actually could have been a lot worse than what it was.”

In handing Maple-Harradine a $600 fine, Ms Oliver said “the problem with drinking a lot of alcohol” is that you reach a point “where clearly, you’re not thinking at all really”.

“The consequences of that can be horrific,” she said.

“Had you actually managed to drive that car out onto a public road it could have ended in catastrophe, for you, somebody else.

“It’s just lucky the security guards were there and put a stop to it, you should send them a letter and thank them.”

Ms Oliver also banned Maple-Harradine from the road for the minimum period of 12 months and warned him against driving while disqualified.

“The keys are put away in the cupboard and I’ll come back to them in 12 months,” he replied.