A POLICE officer has been convicted of high-range drink-driving.
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In the early hours of Sunday morning, 28-year-old man Adrian Eagles was caught driving drunk after a night out at the New England Hotel.
Pleading guilty, the “reckless” behaviour was a response to Eagle’s father recently suffering a stroke, defence solicitor Michael Dennis told Armidale Local Court.
“He [Eagles] doesn’t make any excuses for the events that bring him before the court,” Mr Dennis said.
“He said this is something which is totally out of character for him.”
Eagles had been at a party since 3pm on Sunday before he sauntered on to the New England Hotel.
Leaving his jacket behind at the bar. Eagles went back to retrieve it.
It was then that he was detected driving under the influence by Armidale police.
A passenger was in the vehicle at the time of the offence.
Eagles comes from a close family in Coffs Harbour and his father’s stroke on a camping trip came as a significant shock to them all, defence solicitor Michael Dennis told the court.
“He’s involved in a hockey club and is well-regarded,” Mr Dennis said.
“For all intents and purposes he is a fine young man who has made a grave error of judgement.
“Hopefully in the future he can put it behind him and move on.”
Department of Public Prosecutions independent prosecutor Roger Murray said the offence was “evidently serious”, but declined to comment on the matter further.
Magistrate Michael Holmes commended Eagles for taking responsibility for his actions, but said the offence was a “terrible shame”.
“Members of the community expect a police officer to know better and to not get themselves in this situation,” Mr Holmes said.
“Your reading was a very high reading and it is fortunate that you or your passenger, or worse still somebody else were not killed as a result of your actions that night.”
Eagles was convicted for his first offence of high-range drink-driving.
Magistrate Holmes fined Eagles $2500 and disqualified him from driving for two years with an interlock exemption order.
He was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.