Trent Dixon: Dubbo drink driver sentenced for dangerous driving

A popular rugby league player caught filming his extraordinary high-range drink driving after a night at the Amaroo later stole his girlfriend’s car before he crashed into trailer.

A young man who blew almost five times the legal limit nine days after being caught for drink driving at high speeds has wept in court as he received his first jail sentence.

Trent Anthony Dixon, 20, had been living in Dubbo and drinking at the popular Amaroo Hotel on the night of December 3 last year when police were told about videos he had filmed while driving at high speeds.

Trent Dixon was jailed for repeatedly drunk driving in Dubbo. Picture: Ryan Young

In court documents, police said Dixon did more than 150km/h in a 60km/h zone on Cobbora Road and a staggering 198km/h in a nearby 80km/h zone.

Police in East Dubbo pulled Dixon up at the intersection of Mayfield Road and the Golden Highway on the outskirts of Dubbo.

He told officers he drank between five and seven schooners of Carlton Dry and a breath test returned a reading of .171 — more than three times the legal limit for P-plate drivers like Dixon.

Dixon was arrested, charged and granted bail but eight days later on December 11 he was back behind the wheel while drunk.

Police said after Dixon and his girlfriend went to the Pastoral Hotel for drinks with friends, they returned to her home and she fell asleep.

A wide awake Dixon took his girlfriend’s keys and disappeared for several hours before he rear-ended a trailer being towed by a man on Cobra Street at 6.45am.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault,” Dixon told the man.

When the man tried to call police Dixon drove off, collided with an unknown object and drove to his girlfriend’s house.

Police said when Dixon stormed into his girlfriend’s bedroom he said “you’ve got no car”.

She went outside to look at the car and discovered her vehicle in pieces.

Dixon stood near his girlfriend, started yelling and smashed an ashtray, plate and chopping board before kicking a door in.

Police said a breath test done at 7am produced a reading of .240, almost five times the legal alcohol limit of zero P-platers are permitted to drive under.

In Dubbo Local Court, Dixon pleaded guilty to a laundry list of charges including driving dangerously, not giving particulars to another driver, high-range drink driving, damaging property and taking and driving a car without consent of the owner.

Trent Dixon was supported by his family in Dubbo Local Court. Picture: Jedd Manning

Defence lawyer Self Rumbewas said Dixon was a talented rugby league player who represented the Baradine community, had “no recollection of the offences” and had battled a drinking problem since the age of 14.

“He hasn’t had a drop of alcohol since that last offence and in particular, since going into custody for two nights before he was granted bail,” Mr Rumbewas said.

“Mr Dixon has used alcohol as a coping mechanisms for different traumatic events in his life.

“The relationship was on the rocks … unable to effectively deal with that relationship problem he turned to alcohol which only exacerbated, rather than improved the situation.”

Police prosecutor Sergeant Monica Howard said community safety should trump Dixon’s personal needs.

“It’s not just about Mr Dixon and what’s best for him,” Sergeant Howard said.

“This behaviour of Mr Dixon’s unfortunately places the community at great risk.”

Magistrate Gary Wilson said it was “not an easy exercise” for him to have to sentence a man as young as Dixon for such serious crimes.

“The dangers you presented to yourself and other users of the roadway is just unforgiving,” Magistrate Wilson told Dixon who wept as he learned his fate.

“It’s not often that someone comes before the court with two high-range drink driving offences only nine days apart.”

After Magistrate Wilson made a finding of special circumstances because of Dixon’s youth and lack of time spent in custody, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 months in jail, with a 14-month non-parole period.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and Magistrate Wilson said Dixon would be placed on an alcohol interlock device program, at his own expense, once he could drive again.

An appeal against the severity of the sentence handed down was lodged immediately and Magistrate Wilson rejected an application for appeals bail.

The appeal is due to be heard in September in the District Court at Dubbo.

Originally published as Trent Dixon: Dubbo drink driver sentenced for dangerous driving