A North Nowra man who drank six to eight schooners of beer over 11 hours before returning a breath reading more than three times the limit, has avoided jail time.
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Ashley James Griffiths, 29, pleaded guilty to high range drink driving before Magistrate Gabriel Fleming in Nowra Local Court on October 8 and was placed on an 18-month community corrections order, meaning he can serve his sentence within the community rather than behind bars.
Magistrate Fleming also fined Griffiths $1500, disqualified him from driving for six months and ordered he have an interlock device fitted to his vehicle for two years.
Griffiths' car was spotted by police in Nowra at 12.40am on May 18 travelling north on Berry Street between Plunkett and Worrigee streets, when officers noted it accelerated in excess of the 50km/h signposted speed limit.
Police followed the vehicle which stopped for a red traffic light at the Junction Street intersection before they pulled the vehicle over.
Police said Griffiths smelt strongly of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, speech slurred and movement slow.
A breath test returned a positive result and later a reading of 0.180.
He told officers he had consumed six to eight schooners of beer from 11am the previous day and had only eaten a cheese and bacon pie.
Read more: Crime/Court
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