‘You’ve got me’: Former Bronco pleads guilty to drink-driving

Former Bronco Steve Renouf has pleaded guilty to driving almost four times the legal limit, with a court hearing he told roadside police: “You’ve got me, I’m drunk.”

Renouf, 55, was pulled over by police in a white Kia on Windsor Road, Red Hill, about 10.45pm on July 1.

Police alleged he failed a random roadside breath test, and that a second test returned a reading of 0.197, almost four times the legal limit.

Former rugby league footballer Steve Renouf outside Brisbane Magistrates Court.Credit: Cloe Read

Police prosecutor Kiara D’Odorico told the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday that Renouf was pulled over by police for a licence check and breath test, and admitted to them he was drunk.

Officers reported Renouf was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words, and dropped items on the ground while trying to retrieve his licence, D’Odorico said.

He was detained for the purpose of the second test, but Renouf responded, “No, no, no,” and tried to walk away, the court heard.

He was handcuffed and taken to the watchhouse.

Lawyer Angelo Venardos told the court Renouf had been out drinking with friends in Paddington earlier in the day.

He then made the “foolish decision” to drive home. At the time the former footballer, who has type-1 diabetes, was going through a hypoglycemic episode.

“He said that he was going to catch an Uber or taxi home, but unfortunately he didn’t,” Venardos said.

His lawyer said Renouf was a man of great integrity, and understood the catastrophic consequences if he had have been involved in an accident.

Steve Renouf in his playing heyday. Credit: Peter Bull

At the time he was pulled over, his lawyer said one of the items he dropped from his pocket was his diabetes medication. Once he was taken to the watchhouse, police were kind to Renouf, his lawyer said, and gave him jelly beans.

Outside court, Renouf reiterated apologies he had made on social media that he was “embarrassed and disappointed” in his actions.

Renouf also thanked police who had treated him for his hypoglycemia.

“I have been a role model in the community for a long time and so for me that really deeply hurts me,” Renouf said.

He said he hadn’t spoken to Deadly Choices – a First Nations health and wellbeing support and education service for which he is an ambassador – about continuing to work with the organisation.

“It’s a sad situation, and unfortunately, we’re not perfect,” Renouf said.

“I think [the sentencing] will actually be a positive for me, I’ll go forward [and] make sure to talk to people in the future and young people about not doing that.”

The court heard former Broncos head coach Wayne Bennett provided one of several character references, with Renouf saying later: “He’s been my coach, he’s been my mentor, for a long, long time, and Benny had no problem about it.”

He was sentenced to a $1200 fine and his licence was disqualified for 11 months. No conviction was recorded.

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