A repeat drink-driver who crashed into two parked cars on a Lavington road while five times over the legal limit is now at considerable risk of going to jail.
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Roy David Mee remains at liberty for now after Albury Local Court magistrate Richard Funston agreed to a sentence assessment report on the long-time alcoholic.
But given the circumstances of his case plus the fact he had received a suspended jail term in Victoria in 2013 for a similar drink-driving matter, Mee should not think he would escape full-time custody by way of an intensive corrections order, Mr Funston said.
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"It staggers me in matters like this why Mr Mee just wouldn't decide that if he continued to drink why he wouldn't get rid of the car, get rid of the licence," he said.
"I make no promise or indication at all that I'm not considering a full-time jail sentence."
Earlier, defence lawyer Mark Cronin had requested an adjournment to allow for the preparation of a report.
Mr Cronin said his client had taken genuine and quite signficant steps to tackle his alcohol addiction, including a six-month, full-time program.
"He fell off the wagon again earlier this year and committed this offence," he said. "He understands he's in a very tenuous position."
Mee, 56, of Lavington, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with a high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, not give particulars to other driver and negligent driving not causing death or grievous bodily harm.
The disability pensioner was charged over an incident that took place on May 24.
Police said Mee was driving a black Holden Commodore at 70km/h in a 60km/h zone as he headed west along Union Road, Lavington, about 5.40pm.
Mee lost control of the car on a sweeping bend about 300 metres west of Burrows Road. The car mounted the kerb, traveled along the nature strip and crashed into the side of a Tata Xenon ute.
He continued along the nature strip and back on to the roadway, only to crash into the back of a parked Hyundai Tuscon SUV, the impact captured on CCTV from a nearby property.
Witnesses to the crash removed Mee - who smelt strongly of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet - from his car.
But he then walked off towards Union Road.
The witnesses restrained him when they realised he wasn't going to stop.
Mee later provided a blood alcohol reading of 0.247. He admitted to drinking eight Carlton Draught beers "and one strawberry cocktail" between 8am and 5.15pm.
Mr Funston adjourned sentencing to September 7, with a final warning.
"Obviously, it would be a complete act of madness to drive."
