A man who drank three bottles of Chivas Regal before driving home and crashing into a parked car is fortunate to be a 'pro-social' member of society, a court has heard.
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Shaswat Neupane, 29, was driving a Mitsubishi station wagon along Jubilee Street in Dubbo when he ploughed into a parked Holden Colorado outside a home about 9.20pm on April 1 this year.
Police later arrived and saw the grey station wagon askew with extensive damage to the front of the vehicle, and the Holden Colorado with a significant amount of damage to its rear.
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Officers approached Neupane, who they said smelt very strongly of alcohol and was having difficulty keeping cognitive conversation or follow simple lawful directions.
Neupane told police he had been drinking at a friend's house since 7.30pm, and had consumed between two and three bottles of Chivas Regal scotch-whisky, before attempting to drive.
He was taken to Dubbo Hospital for medical assessment, and later returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.208 - over four times the legal limit.
In July Neupane pleaded guilty to high-range drink-driving in Dubbo Local Court, and the matter was adjourned so he could complete the traffic offenders program.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said she recognised Neupane was a person of good character, and lacked a criminal record.
"Obviously this is a serious matter, and were it not for the fact he seems to be a pro-social member of society, he's working, involved in the community," she said.
"It seems to be an aberration unlikely to be repeated."
Neupane was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order, disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to install a mandatory interlock device for 24-months.
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