A MAN who drank 400ml of Jim Beam bourbon before getting behind the wheel of his car has pleaded guilty to drink-driving with a blood alcohol limit more than five times the legal limit.
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Jarrod Marc Bisman, 27, of Phillip Street, Llanarth, appeared before magistrate Michael Allen charged with high-range PCA and drive recklessly / furiously, speed manner dangerous.
He pleaded guilty to both charges.
Police facts sheets which were handed to the court told how Bisman, a spare parts manager, had broken up with his partner.
To make himself feel better, police said Bisman had drunk 400ml of Jim Beam between 6.30pm on January 30 and 7am the next day.
At around 12.30pm, he got into his car and drove to Westpoint Shopping Centre where a number of men, including traffic controllers, were working as they were repairing the roads in the area.
The court heard Bisman was instructed to stop by the traffic controller in Suttor Street but he kept going, losing control of his car in loose gravel.
A second traffic controller approached the car and Bisman got within half a metre of him.
Fearing he would be hit by the car, the traffic controller fled for his safety, yelling out to co-workers to get out of the way.
Bisman continued driving and hit a tipper truck, forcing a road worker who was in the back of the truck to jump to safety while another six workers, only metres away from the truck, also ran away so they wouldn’t get hit by Bisman’s car.
After hitting the truck, Bisman continued up Wark Parade at speed, hitting a parked Mazda before parking his own car and remaining seated in the front seat.
Several of the workmen ran up to the vehicle and blocked Bisman in the car park until police arrived a short time later.
Police spoke to Bisman, who told them “he had been drinking”.
A roadside breath test produced a positive result and he was arrested and taken to Bathurst police station, recording a reading of 0.271.
Police noted his eyes were bloodshot but despite his high reading he was coherent and able to communicate with police. He did not exhibit any other signs police would normally see at this level of intoxication.
References tendered to the court described Bisman as a normally sensible young man who was remorseful and embarrassed by his actions.
Mr Allen adjourned the matter until May 1, ordering a full pre-sentence report including a Community Service Order Assessment.