Man jailed after 12th DD offence

AN IPSWICH man caught drink driving for the 12th time has been jailed after admitting he got behind the wheel while more than four times the legal limit.

The 45-year-old was sentenced to 18 months jail, to be released on parole on March 19 next year.

Ipswich Magistrates Court heard Edward Martin Patrick Munroe had 11 previous convictions for drink driving, many of them high range, and four for disqualified driving.

In 2003 Munroe blew 0.229; in 2002 he recorded 0.292; in 2000, 0.276 and in 1999 he was caught twice with readings of 0.307 and 0.211 and was sent to jail.

The court was told Munroe blew 0.214 when breathalysed on September 21 in Riverview.

But when police stopped Munroe he told police he was his brother.

Senior Constable Brad Dick said the painter claimed he did not have his licence and when police pointed out the wallet sitting on the passenger's seat he said it was his brother's 18+ card.

“The picture on the card appeared very similar to the defendant,” Snr Cnst Dick said.

His licence had been disqualified for 15 months in March for driving under the influence of liquor with a reading of 0.285 and he was fined.

Munroe also failed to provide his identification to police within seven days.

He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, driving while disqualified and two counts of contravening a requirement or direction.

The 45-year-old was also sentenced to one month jail for each charge of contravening a requirement, to be served at the same time as his 18-month sentence.

He was disqualified from driving for six years and six months.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told Munroe that if he was going to drink, that he should do it at home.

“You are a danger on the road with this much alcohol on board,” she said.

Defence lawyer John Taylor said his client had a problem with alcohol.

Mr Taylor said the 45-year-old had been dealing well with alcohol, with a six year gap between being caught in March and his previous drink driving offences.

But he said Munroe had been driven to drink after being distraught due to a relationship break-up and the death of a brother.