James Lee Zejfert pleads guilty to high range drink driving after crash in Newtown
A night out with friends ended with a Toowoomba father-of-two crashing a car while three times the limit and being chased by dog squad officers.
Police & Courts
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A Toowoomba man who crashed his car while more than three times the legal alcohol limit led police and the dog squad on a chase through Newtown before he was apprehended.
James Lee Zejfert was located by police at 12.41am on May 15 after they found the bumper belonging to his Mazda sedan near the intersection at Holberton and Ascot streets, Newtown, Toowoomba Magistrates court was told.
The car had struck a sign at Our Lady Lourdes School and was found not far from the intersection, with police prosecutor, Sergeant Tim Hutton telling the court the car was significantly damaged with the abandoned car still running.
Highly intoxicated, the court was told Zejfert ran from dog squad officers before he was tackled to the ground and arrested.
Sergeant Hutton said he refused to answer the officers’ questions at the scene and continued to be uncooperative once taken into custody.
The father-of-two recorded a BAC of 0.184, with police reporting a strong smell of alcohol coming from him and his car.
Zejfert pleaded guilty to one charge of high range driving under the influence of liquor.
Representing himself, Zejfert told the court his recent divorce and uncertain family life as the leading cause behind his drunk behaviour, which he said was out of character.
Zejfert said after seeing a movie with friends and having a ‘few drinks’ he blacked out, not remembering anything beyond 10.30pm that night.
The 31-year-old told the Toowoomba court he was ‘ashamed and embarrassed’ of his behaviour, adding the incident had caused him to reflect on his relationship with alcohol.
“I am very grateful my actions did not cause harm to anyone in the community,” Zejfert said.
Acting magistrate, Roger Stark fined Zejfert $900 and disqualified him from driving for seven months. No conviction was recorded.
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