Ashley James Falconer blew five times legal limit after shopping centre car park crash

The 67-year-old said he was so appalled by his drink-driving episode he hired a personal carer to keep him off the grog.

A Toowoomba man who drove into another car while under the influence of liquor was so appalled by his own behaviour he had since hired a personal carer to keep him off the grog.

Ashley James Falconer had been driving into a shopping centre off Herries St about 7.45pm, December 15, when he crashed into the bumper bar of a vehicle driving out, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Though neither vehicle sustained much damage, police were called who found Falconer still in the driver’s seat of his car and smelling of alcohol, police prosecutor Nick Pratt told the court.

The 67-year-old was breath tested at 0.252 after which he was held in the watch house for a time “to sober up”, Mr Pratt said.

Ashley James Falconer pleading guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 9, 2024, to high-range drink-driving.

Falconer told police he had been drinking vodka since midday and had driven to the shops to get cigarettes, he said.

The self represented Falconer pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while under the influence of liquor.

He told the court he had started drinking to distract himself from the pain of eczema and the fact he had no memory of the crash “is distressing to me”.

He said he had since hired a personal carer who took him to a doctor to work on strategies to cut back or stop his drinking.

He said he also had an appointment with AODS (Alcohol and Other Drugs Service) on later this month.

Magistrate Patricia Kirkman-Scroope noted Falconer had a history of drink-driving though his last offence had been in 2017.

Ms Kirkman-Scroope told Falconer he could well have hit a pedestrian let alone another car driving with such a high breath/alcohol level.

“The fact you were on the road is frightening,” she said.

However, taking into account his early plea of guilty and that it appeared he had “obviously seen the light”, Ms Kirkman-Scroopes fined Falconer $1000 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for eight months.