A Gooloogong man who crashed his vehicle into a telegraph pole and recorded a blood alcohol reading of .173 will serve a seven month prison sentence under the supervision of community corrections.
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Timothy David Skelton, 38, avoided full-time custody at Cowra Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of high-range drink driving.
He was disqualified from driving for six months from August 30, the date of the offence, and will have an interlock device installed for 24 months.
At court, solicitor Fiona Sams said her client, who is employed as a fencing contractor, relies heavily on a drivers licence.
“He estimates that he drives 30,000 to 40,000 kilometres a year through his employment,” Ms Sams said.
“Since being suspended he’s had a great deal of difficulty working.”
Police facts reveal Skelton had consumed between eight to 10 stubbies of mid-strength beer between 4pm and 3am before getting behind the wheel and crashing into a telegraph pole on the Grenfell Road about 3.30am.
Police say it appeared that Skelton had fallen asleep while driving, woke, over-corrected the vehicle and ended up slamming into a tree on the opposite side of the roadway.
He was traveling west when he crashed near the intersection of River Park Road.
A nearby resident called triple zero.
At 5.24am Skelton’s blood sample was taken.
At 11am he attended Cowra Police Station and he was charged with high range drink driving.
“The offence is aggravated by the fact that the vehicle the offender was driving was involved in a single vehicle motor vehicle accident,” Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim said.
“It is fortunate the offender was not more severely injured than he was.
“If you commit any offences which put you in breach of the order you will end up serving the sentence by way of full-time custody.”
Skelton was ordered to enter a good behaviour bond for the period of the seven month sentence.