Over the limit AMC lecturer Mark Symes caught driving Jaguar without licence

A respected engineering lecturer was busted driving his black Jaguar while over the legal alcohol limit without a licence. What the court heard.

A respected engineering lecturer fronted the Launceston Magistrates Court after an ill-fated decision saw him get behind the wheel while “well-affected” by alcohol. Picture: Richard Jupe

A respected engineering lecturer fronted the Launceston Magistrates Court after an ill-fated decision saw him get behind the wheel while “well-affected” by alcohol.

Mark Francis Symes, 62, appeared at court on Thursday after pleading guilty to driving while over the prescribed blood alcohol limit and without a license.

The court heard Tasmania Police caught Symes driving his black Jaguar at South Launceston on April 24 at 8.55am.

Symes, who did not have a valid driver’s license, told police he was headed to his mechanic to have an alcohol interlock device fitted to his car.

Following a positive roadside breath test, Symes was arrested and taken to the police station.

A subsequent breath analysis revealed a reading of 0.065 per cent, and Symes was issued a six-month driving disqualification notice.

Defence lawyer James Oxley said Symes had been disqualified from driving from a previous offence in 2022 when he was caught drink driving.

Mark Francis Symes, 62, appeared at Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to driving while over the prescribed blood alcohol limit and without a license.

He said Symes, who was an engineering lecturer at the Australian Maritime College, had turned to alcohol to cope with the sudden death of his wife a few years earlier.

Mr Oxley said that Symes “wasn’t looking after himself” and that his drinking got worse over time.

The court heard that on the day of the offence, Symes had arranged for a friend to take his car to a mechanic at South Launceston.

However, when this arrangement fell through, Symes decided to drive the car there himself as he was keen to have the interlock device fitted and recover his license.

Mr Oxley said Symes had accepted his alcohol issue and had begun attending an intense detox program weekly.

“Since he has begun the detox at-home program, he has only had one glass of wine,” Mr Oxley said.

Magistrate Simon Brown said while Symes was “well-affected” at the time of offence, it was good he was working to resolve his alcohol dependency issues.

“You’ve had a difficult period in your life, and it’s noteworthy that you have addressed your issues with alcohol in a meaningful way,” he said.

Mr Brown fined Symes $900 and disqualified him from driving for six months, backdated to April 24.