A DRINK driving P-plater who shredded a tyre on his car in a residential street has been fined $1200 and lost his driver's licence for six months.
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Darcy Black, 19, of Greenvale Court, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to careless driving/improper use of a vehicle and drink driving.
On top of the fine and licence cancellation, Black will have to complete a safe driver program and a drink driver course and be subject to an alcohol interlock condition when he gets his licence back.
Police said that soon after 8am on January 8 Black was driving his Holden Commodore west in Lancefield Street when a witness heard the car rev loudly and then perform a wheelie at the intersection with Kimberly Road.
The witness opened his front door and saw a cloud of smoke waft passed his home.
Soon after Black parked his car on the front lawn of a property.
The witness approached the car and noticed a rear tyre was shredded and there was a half consumed stubbie of beer in the vehicle.
Two witnesses then approached the home and a verbal argument developed with Black after they told him police had been called.
Police officers arrived, Black was taken to Warrnambool police station who recorded an alcohol reading of .087.
Black denied driving and said he had consumed about 10 stubbies with friends the previous night.
Defence counsel Kieran Celestina said his client was an apprentice refrigeration mechanic and had not been before the court previously.
He said Black was now taking responsibility for his actions.
Mr Celestina said Black had to repair his vehicle, pay legal fees, would lose his licence, have an alcohol interlock condition on his licence and he would have to now pay court fines and for the safe driver and drink driver programs.
He said his client was sorry to have caused concern and inconvenience to the witnesses.
Magistrate John Lesser said it was clear that Black's common sense had gone out the window due in part to alcohol and inexperience.
He said he hoped the court case was a valuable lesson.