A NEW Zealander arrested when he returned to Australia has been fined $1500 after a drunken crash in Warrnambool almost four years ago.
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Brent Stone, 48, previously of Mill Street, Mortlake, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to drink driving, careless driving and assaulting a police officer.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said Stone had a very high blood alcohol reading (.168) and as well as fining him, she banned him from driving for 16 months.
Stone is currently on holidays in Australia and going back to New Zealand on Wednesday.
He was warned if he did not pay the fine he may not be allowed back into Australia.
Police said that on the night of March 23, 2013, Stone had been drinking bourbon cans at a licensed premises.
He admitted having between 10 and 13 cans.
At 12.20am he was diving north along Laverock Road towards his Mortlake home when he lost control at Woodend Road, skidded and crashed into a fence.
He damaged a water main and brick letterbox.
When police officers attended they found Stone unsteady on his feet, arrested him and took him back to the Warrnambool police station.
There, Stone hit a police officer to the back of the head. He was forcibly restrained and placed in handcuffs.
Paramedics were called to the police station and Stone was taken to hospital.
When later interviewed Stone said he had little memory of the night - "I was blind".
He said he shouldn't have been driving and crashed because he was going too quick.
Solicitor Amanda Chambers said that between being charged and a court date Stone had moved back to New Zealand.
She said she tried to appear for him in his absence but that was not allowed to go ahead and the matter was not previously finalised.
"He's come back for a vacation and wants it dealt with," she said.
Stone said he was not driving during his current holiday, he was very drunk on the night and made the foolish decision to drive.
He has no prior court appearances and said before he left Australia he had repaired or paid for the damage he caused.