A FATHER of two young children driving under the influence of alcohol at 138km/h near Garvoc has lost his licence for four years.
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Tyrone Lynch, 30, of Danedite Road, Weerite, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday to refusing to undertake an alcohol breath test, exceeding the speed limit and failing to change his name and address with VicRoads.
He was convicted and fined $850 and his driver’s licence was cancelled for four years.
Defence counsel Xavier Farrelly said one of Lynch’s young children needed a nappy change which prompted his client to decline the breath test.
He said Lynch admitted to having a couple of beers at lunchtime before driving and had now lost his farm job.
Police alleged that Lynch was driving east along the Princes Highway near Garvoc at 3.20pm on March 6 when he was seen by a police officer.
Lynch was clocked travelling at 138km/h and he returned a positive preliminary breath test reading.
He was taken back to the Warrnambool police station but decided to leave without undertaking an evidentiary breath test.
He had a prior drink-driving offence and his licence was yesterday cancelled for a mandatory four years.
Lynch told police he was driving at almost 140km/h with two young children in his car because he wanted to get home and he had just overtaken another vehicle.
Magistrate John Lesser said Lynch had put himself and his young family in a really difficult position.
He said travelling at such a speed was incredibly dangerous and there was an indication Lynch had been drinking.
The magistrate told Lynch yesterday that he had an appalling criminal record, he had placed his children at his mercy and he needed to better look after his licence when he got it back.