First and foremost was that he behave himself; getting into trouble with the law again was not an option if he wanted to maintain his freedom.

But just four months later, McTiernan found himself in that exact position after a fight with his girlfriend prompted him to drive drunk and erratic through a grassed reserve, dangerously close to residents.

It was a clear evening in November when a crew of detectives from Lake Illawarra noticed McTiernan’s Mitsubishi Lancer leave Chapman Road at Mount Warrigal and drive across the reserve, swerving and fishtailing at a speed of between 50 and 60km/hr.

The car came within 10 metres of a group of adults playing football, before re-entering the roadway about 200 metres up Chapman Road.

McTiernan then drove on the wrong side of the road for about 50m before correcting the car.

Police pulled him over down the road, at which time he said “I’ve just had a row with my misses, I’ve had the worst day of my life”.

Checks on McTiernan’s provisional licence revealed it was suspended. He was breath tested after telling police he’d had six beers and was “definitely going over [the limit]”.

He later blew a reading of 0.050 and was charged with low range drink driving, driving in a dangerous manner and driving without P-plates.

McTiernan pleaded guilty during a recent court appearance.

Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to reinstate McTiernan’s suspended sentence for the brawl, or refer him for an intensive correction order for his most recent crimes, instead ordering him to spend three months behind bars on both sets of charges.

He not be eligible to regain his licence until 2019.