Robert John Sharman is no stranger to the old police station breathalyser.
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He’s had at least two encounters with them and on both occasions they’ve got the better of him.
In August 2009, he got done for mid-range drink driving. His sentence wasn’t that steep, but his licence was disqualified for two years.
Then in May 2014, he got done again, this time for high-range drink driving.
He lost his licence for four years and was handed a one year prison sentence but avoided going to jail after the magistrate agreed to suspend the term.
He’s unlikely to be so lucky this time around.
Sharman, who only recently got his L-plates after his latest disqualification period finally ended, was driving his unregistered silver Subaru Liberty unaccompanied along his home street in Woonona on October 28 when he crashed into a maroon coloured Holden SUV.
Both vehicles were damaged as a result of the collision, which was witnessed by a neighbour out for a walk.
Sharman tried to drive off but only got five metres up the road. The owner of the Holden approached Sharman’s vehicle and reached in to removed the keys. As he did so, he was hit with a strong smell of alcohol; only then did he realise Sharman was hopelessly drunk.
In documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, police said it didn’t take them long to figure out who they were after when they arrived on the scene.
The officers said Sharman struggled to stand upright and on the same spot as they spoke to him, noting he was swaying from side to side and had difficulty understanding basic commands.
They also said he was irritable, aggressive and agitated during the encounter and he continuously slurred his words.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he returned an alcohol reading of 0.341 – almost seven times the legal limit for fully licensed drivers.
Officers said it was one of the highest readings they’d ever seen.
Sharman was charged but allowed to remain in the cells to sleep off the alcohol: he reportedly “snored the entire time”.
Sharman fronted court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving and driving as a learner without supervision.
He remains on bail and will face sentencing on December 4.
