Instead, he has been fined and suspended from driving for eight months.

David Edward John Gehl, 52, was caught drink driving on four occasions and twice driving while suspended in just over three months last year.

Last month Magistrate Fleming fined Gehl $1700 and disqualified him from driving for three months and ordered he have an interlock device fitted to his vehicle for 12 months for two counts of low range drink driving.

She also ordered he undergo assessment for possible home detention over a mid-range drink driving and two driving while suspended charges which she described as "serious and carrying a jail sentence."

In Nowra Local Court on June 29, Magistrate Fleming placed Gehl on a nine-month intensive corrections order, meaning he can serve his sentence in the community rather than in jail.

She fined him $900, ordered he perform 100 hours community service, disqualified him from driving for eight months and ordered he have an interlock device fitted to his vehicle for two years.

Court papers said Gehl was initially caught low range drink driving around 10.38pm on September 5 at Page Avenue, North Nowra, where he returned a reading of 0.72.

Nine days later he was again caught by police in Abergeldie Street, Nowra East on September 14, returning another low range reading of 0.74.

Police again nabbed him behind the wheel on the Princes Highway at Bomaderry on October 17 where he returned a mid-range reading of 0.188.

He was also charged with driving while suspended.

Gehl was caught again by police on November 23, again in Abergeldie Street, Nowra East at 10.40pm, where he returned a breath reading of 0.45 and was charged with a special category drink driving offence and again with driving while suspended.

Magistrate Fleming had previously described Gehl's driving record as an "absolute disgrace", while Gehl had admitted to having alcohol problems and was trying to deal with the issue, including undertaking a rehabilitation program which included alcohol detoxing.

Read more: Crime/Court