A MAN who started a fire that destroyed his car, boat and trailer drank 25 beers and half a bottle of Jack Daniels while camping the night before the incident.
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Joel Edward Williams’ “last hurrah” last month before the birth of his child was so big, he blew 0.122 about 3pm the following day.
The 25-year-old Albury man came to police attention at Bungowannah on March 5 after the boat he was towing detached from his Holden Calais on the Riverina Highway.
The boat came loose about 2.10pm, bounced off the road and came to rest on the southern verge of the road.
Williams performed a U-turn and parked before running over to the vessel.
A passenger yelled out that his car, which was parked in long “tinder dry” grass, was smoking.
Flames quickly engulfed the car and burnt a large area of grass, and the boat and its trailer, destroying them.
The items, which were worth about $5000, were not insured.
Williams’ wallet, shoes and shirt were also destroyed by the fire.
Records from the Bureau of Meteorology show the temperature in Albury reached 38.5 degrees on the day – the equal hottest day for the month of March.
Police attended the scene and took Williams back to the Albury station, where he returned the 0.122 reading despite finishing drinking 10½ hours earlier.
He had been camping with friends and had had a “big night” ahead of the birth of his fourth child.
Williams told police we would have to be more responsible after the child was delivered.
His partner was eight months pregnant at the time of the incident.
He told magistrate Tony Murray in Albury Local Court on Tuesday he thought he would have been under the limit.
“I’ve got nothing,” he said when asked by the magistrate what he wanted to say.
“I just didn’t think I’d be over the next afternoon.”
The magistrate said Williams had consumed a very large amount of alcohol.
“It must have been a big night because this took place at 2pm in the afternoon,” Mr Murray said.
Williams, who is a fitter and turner but has been unemployed for several years, said he needed his licence to drive his kids around and take them to day care.
His partner was in court to support him.
Mr Murray imposed a $1000 fine and suspended Williams’ licence for six months, backdated to the time of the incident.
