A high school teacher caught drink-driving after a boozy night out on New Year's Eve has told a court he hopes his students will learn from his "reckless" behaviour.
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Andrew John Page, a University of Wollongong graduate currently teaching PE at Campbelltown Performing Arts High, admitted downing eight mid-strength beers before getting behind the wheel of his Mazda 3 sedan.
He was pulled over just before 1am on New Year's Day after police saw his car swerving on the Princes Highway at Fairy Meadow.
Page, 27, from Tarrawanna, returned a positive breath test roadside, prompting police to take him back to Corrimal Police Station for a breath analysis.
He was found to have an alcohol reading of 0.085. Officers said Page's movements appeared sluggish and his eyes were bloodshot.
He was charged with mid-range drink driving, to which he pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday.
Defence lawyer Skye Buchanan tendered a letter of apology on Page's behalf in which he acknowledged his actions had been "reckless, dangerous and senseless".
"This has been an eye-opening experience for me as my line of work regularly puts me in front of teenage students informing them of the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol," Page wrote.
"As a result I have let many people down in my family. I have disappointed my family, my friends, my co-workers and the industry in which I am employed.
"This was a huge error of judgement on my behalf."
The court heard Page has aspirations to become a professional firefighter, but was required to have a clean criminal record for at least five years to be considered.
Ms Buchanan asked Magistrate Michael Stoddart not to record a conviction against her client to allow him to pursue the new career path.
However, Magistrate Stoddart refused the request, noting Page was "well over" the 0.05 alcohol limit.
"Wouldn't common sense tell you if you've had a few drinks on New Year's eve there will be cops everywhere?" he said.
"You made a lousy decision this night...you were a danger to yourself and to others."
Page was convicted, fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving for three months. He will then have to install an interlock device in his car for 12 months.