Third time unlucky for repeat drink-driving Toowoomba man

After being caught drink-driving for the third time in five years, this Wilsonton man has been ordered off the roads for 15 months.

The 27-year-old had been drinking at home but drove to get cigarettes, the court heard.

It was third time unlucky for Toowoomba man Archy Adam Donnolley who pleaded guilty before the city’s Magistrates Court to his third drink-driving offence in five years.

Fortunately, unlike his previous two blood/alcohol readings which were both above 0.15, this time he blew 0.127.

Among his previous offences, Donnolley was seen standing next to his burning car on the Warrego Highway at Minden about 3am, March 10, 2019.

Before returning a breath/alcohol reading of 0.169, he told police his transmission had exploded.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton said a police patrol noticed the 27-year-old’s car stopped at traffic lights on McDougall Street, Wilsonton, about 2am, March 23.

Suspecting the car had stalled, police did a U-turn and pulled alongside him and asked if everything was okay.

Donnelly slurred his words in response, leading police to breath test him, Senior Constable Wheaton said.

Checks found he was subject to the interlock provisions arising from a previous driving offence but he had no interlock fitted, she said.

He pleaded guilty to both offences.

His solicitor Andrew Wiseman told the court his client was a self-employed roofer and that without his driver’s licence he would have to pay the cost of a driver.

COVID-19 had decimated his client’s business and he had been drinking more, he said.

On this night, Donnolley had been drinking at home but had driven to get cigarettes, Mr Wiseman said.

Magistrate Damian Carroll placed Donnolley on 12 months probation and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 15 months.