A DRINK driver who crashed into a power pole causing a blackout in west Warrnambool and Grassmere district is now about $17,500 out of pocket.
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Bernard Malone, 57, of Grassmere Road, Grassmere, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to drink driving and careless driving.
He was convicted, fined $2000, banned from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay $14,493.90 compensation to electricity company Powercor.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose was blunt in her assessment of the case.
"You are precisely the sort of person we don't want on the roads," she told Malone.
"Did you not learn anything when you recorded a reading of .169 in 1995 and .099 in 2012?" she asked.
Malone said he should have.
He told police he believed he was borderline for drink driving before the accident and he reached down to put out a cigarette before losing control and crashing.
Police said that at 8pm on July 7 last year Malone was travelling west along Staywood Road at Grassmere in a red ute.
He lost control, skidded and collided with a power pole which then collapsed and fell across the road with live wires still attached.
Electricity supply to Grassmere district and west Warrnambool had to be disrupted so repairs could be made.
Malone was taken by ambulance to Warrnambool Base Hospital where a blood sample was taken which returned a reading of .162.
The cost of repairs was $14,493.90.
Malone told police he had seven full strength-drinks before driving and admitted he made a "stupid mistake".
