A man who had been banned from driving until 2019 has been handed a further two-year disqualification after he was found to be drink driving earlier this year.
A man aged 34, of Northbridge, was charged with driving while disqualified and mid-range drink driving after being stopped by police on April 25. Police had earlier received reports of Bolding’s red Mazda RX3 doing burnouts in the carpark, according to statements tendered in Downing Centre Local Court today.
He was later stopped on Eastern Valley Way, Northbridge after police saw him perform a 50m wheelspin down the road and he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.137. The 34-year-old had already been banned from the roads until 2019 after numerous convictions for driving while disqualified, suspended or in a manner dangerous to the public.
The man initially pleaded guilty to both offences, but later contested the disqualified driving charge, arguing he held a valid UK driver’s license, which he said entitled him to drive on local roads despite his lengthy ban. “I’m a dual citizen of both Australia and the UK ... as a visitor on a UK passport, you may drive in Australia on a valid UK license,” he said.
The man, who represented himself in court, said he had only returned to Australia on February 24 after living in the UK, although he admitted to having rental properties in both countries. But magistrate Geoffrey Bradd said a person suspended from driving in NSW could not drive on local roads, regardless of if they held an overseas licence.
The man received a six-month suspended sentence for each offence and was banned for another two years on top of his current disqualification period.
The court was told the 34-year-old was previously sentenced to six months in prison for driving while disqualified on May 2, when he was stopped by police shortly after leaving Manly Court. He has appealed the conviction and is expected to appear in the Sydney District Court at a later date.
