A FOURTH high blood- alcohol reading in 22 years has landed a Mortlake man with a jail sentence.
Trevor Millard, 51, of Dunlop Street, was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty on Tuesday in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to charges relating to drink-driving and towing an unregistered caravan.
He has indicated he will appeal and has been released on bail.
Millard was caught driving erratically on the Hamilton Highway near Lismore while towing a caravan in January this year and returned a blood-alcohol reading of .178 — more than three times the legal limit.
The court heard Millard had been found guilty in the past of drink-driving with readings of .155, .186 and .138.
His driving on the day in question was witnessed by a following driver who was unable to overtake because Millard’s caravan was “swerving all over the road”, the court heard.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton said Millard had driven six kilometres before he was stopped. He had been drinking at the Derrinallum Hotel.
Millard’s defence counsel Michael Lumsden said his client “doesn’t have a precise recollection of the incident” but “deeply regrets” his actions.
Character references tendered to the court described him as an “honest and capable worker”, but magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said such recommendations merely meant Millard “would have someone to visit him in jail or somebody at his funeral” should his propensity to drink-drive continue.
“This is your fourth offence in 22 years and on the face of it that’s a lengthy time span. But most people never come near a court in their entire driving career,” he said.
“You were a significant risk to yourself and other members of the public by choosing to drive.”
Millard was sentenced to two months in jail with a further four months suspended for two years. His licence was disqualified for five years.
He was released from custody after launching an appeal.