A Scarsdale man who faced court for his eighth drink-driving offence faces being sent to jail.
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Darrin Dean, who pleaded guilty to one count each of drink-driving, breaching his alcohol interlock condition and breaching a .00 licence condition, had his sentence deferred following a medical emergency shortly before he was due to be sentenced on Thursday afternoon.
The Ballarat Magistrates’ Court had earlier heard Dean was intercepted on Smythes Road last October in a car which was not fitted with an alcohol interlock system, a direct breach of a court order.
He then blew a positive breath test of 0.081, which also breached his .00 licence condition.
At the time Dean, who was intercepted at 10.55pm, told police he had been drinking since noon.
He also admitted to police what he did was stupid and irresponsible.
Representing himself in court, Dean said he had attended an out-of-town funeral and decided to drive because he did not want to be stranded.
“I made a stupid mistake and I will have to live with it,” he said.
Dean, who was in court on his eighth drink-driving offence, admitted he had “a bad (drink-driving) history”.
Magistrate Ronald Saines said while he accepted the offence was not accompanied by a collision, it was still serious and warranted time in prison considering it was his eighth drink-driving offence.
Mr Saines indicated he would imprison Dean, but would consider his health when the matter returned to court on February 20.
