A man was more than three times over the legal blood alcohol limit after he lost control of his car and crashed into a power pole in Ballarat.
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Arthur Taylor pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday to dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jack Fletcher said he was driving on Brittain Street and lost control of his car on a sweeping bend about 7.45pm on February 5, 2020.
The court heard he hit a power pole, causing the concrete pole to crack through.
Taylor was taken to hospital and the power pole was replaced.
Representing himself at court, Taylor said he was grateful no one else was hurt in the crash.
"I was going to catch a taxi home. I got in the car and drove home and I shouldn't have," he said.
Magistrate Ron Saines said Taylor obviously lost control because of a combination of high speed and alcohol.
"You are lucky it was only the pole that was broken and not your head," he said.
Taylor said he had to sell his truck to clear his debts and pay $13,000 for the power pole.
He said he bought himself an electric push bike to get around the past year while he was disqualified from driving.
"Fortunately no one else was killed or injured as a result of your poor decisions," Mr Saines said.
"A $20 taxi ride would have been a lot cheaper than a $13,000 pole."
Taylor was disqualified from driving for 18 months and was convicted and fined $1200.
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