A western Victoria man cannot drive until August 2022 after pleading guilty to a high-range drink driving offence, where he blew almost three times the legal BAC limit.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Timothy Spurway, 58, appeared in the Stawell Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, November 23, where he pleaded guilty to a high-range drink driving offence in July 2021.
The court heard Stawell police members observed Spurway driving on the Western Highway near Great Western at around 2am on July 4, 2021.
Police intercepted Spurway, and he was asked to produce his licence, but he could not locate it.
Spurway said he had consumed some alcoholic drinks during the evening.
Police conducted a preliminary breath test which detected alcohol in Spurway's system.
READ MORE:
He was then brought to the Stawell Police Station, and a breath test at 2am showed he had a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.133 per cent, almost three times higher than the legal BAC levels.
Spurway said to police he had been drinking consistently since 3pm the previous day and was consuming "a stubby an hour".
He also stated that he had considered the possibility that he was over the legal BAC limit.
Officers issued Spurway with a notice of immediate suspension of licence, and his car was impounded.
Spurway's defence lawyer Anita Ward said her client should receive the minimum punishment possible due to his rehabilitation work since the incident.
OTHER NEWS:
"My client pleads guilty at earliest opportunity and has no prior history," she said.
"He is very aware he won't be able to drive for some time, and he has taken full responsibility, co-operated with police, and has no prior history.
"I would ask he be given the minimum time off the road."
Magistrate Tim Walsh said he was happy with Spurway's efforts to rehabilitate since the incident.
"I don't need to give you a lecture," he said.
"It is clear you have taken ownership of the offending."
Magistrate Walsh disqualified the 58-year-old from driving for 13 months, backdated to July 4, 2021, and cancelled his licence.
Magistrate Walsh also issued Spurway with a good behaviour bond until May 23, 2022.
If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.
