He reckoned he might have drunk anywhere between 10 and 20 cans of mixed spirits.

Lappin later gave a blood alcohol reading of 0.109.

That resulted in him being charged with having a mid-range reading.

Albury Local Court magistrate Tony Murray had doubts though about Lappin’s estimation of how much he downed in his extended drinking session.

“He could not have consumed 20 cans and got that reading,” he said.

Mr Murray said at best Lappin might have drunk up to 10 cans of the Jim Beam Black and cider.

Nevertheless, he said it was clear that Lappin’s offending was aggravated by the fact he was towing the trailer and excavator.

Defence solicitor James Sloan said Lappin was in the area at the time from his Healesville home as he was doing work for a cousin in Chiltern.

“He accepts there’s no excuse for the commission of the offence,” Mr Sloan said.

Lappin accepted he should not have been driving, including towing the trailer, though was surprised by the reading, he said.

Mr Murray was told in facts put before him how police saw Lappin’s vehicle on Wagga Road, Lavington, on May 15 at 2.11am.

Police immediately noticed Lappin’s vehicle was towing the trailer and excavator.

They activated their warning lights and were able to pull Lappin over about 100 metres south of the intersection with Kaylock Road.

Lappin produced a Victorian driver’s licence when asked by police.

He then provided a positive result to a preliminary breath test and so was arrested and taken to Albury police station, where he provided the 0.109 result.

Lappin, who travelled from Melbourne for his court appearance, told the police he reckoned he had his first drink about 7 o’clock on the evening of May 14.

His last was not long before he got pulled over by police – most likely about 2am on the 15^th.

“The accused stated he did not consume much food while drinking,” police said.

Lappin was described as being “moderately affected” by alcohol and his eyes were glazed and watery.

Police said Lappin’s speech was slurred and his conversation after being pulled over “was repetitive at times”.

“You got me,” he told the arresting officers.

“I’ve been drinking all arvo’.”

Lappin pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mr Murray convicted Lappin and fined him $800 over the offence.

Lappin was also disqualified from holding a licence for six months.