A former Western Bulldogs vice captain drank UDLs the night he collided with four parked cars, his attorney told a court.
Lachie Hunter pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court Monday to drinking alcohol, carelessly driving and not giving his name and address when property was damaged.
He was sentenced to a $ 1,000 fine and 12 month license disqualification without conviction after Judge Michelle Hodgson said he received “substantial” sanctions from the Western Bulldogs, including a $ 5,000 fine and a ban four games.
Mr. Hunter was fined that night for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
The charges came as a result of his conduct on April 16 of that year when the star midfielder collided with four vehicles in Middle Park just before 9 p.m.
The court heard that the owner of two of the cars heard a noise and came out to investigate, and Mr. Hunter, who drove a gray Toyota Rav 4, gave him his license details.
In a statement anonymously sent to the court, the man described Mr. Hunter’s reaction to the collision: “He said he was fine and very sorry about the accident and that he would fix everything,” he said.
Mr. Hunter spoke to another vehicle owner before being taken to a friend’s house in South Yarra.
The second witness said in a statement: “He said, ‘Sorry, I just fought with my girlfriend. ‘He immediately offered me his license. I took his license into the house to take a picture. The young man who hit my vehicle offered to pay for everything at that moment. “
Police caught up with the 26-year-old in South Yarra where he blew 0.123.
He was “hiding around a corner on the balcony next door” when the police arrived at the address, as evidenced by court documents.
His attorney Rob Stary told the court that Mr. Hunter was drinking before the crash and continued to drink UDLs – a pre-mixed canned vodka drink – at his friend’s house.
When the police asked him why he was drinking, he replied, “Is that important? I came here and drank. Do I have to say something about that – I don’t know what to say, ”the court heard.
“I’ve never been in a collision. I shit myself. “
The court heard when they asked why he left the scene before the police arrived, he said, “After that buddy, to be honest, I shit myself.”
Ms. Hodgson said it was clear he left the scene due to “confusion” as he had already given his license details.
Chris Grant, the head of the Western Bulldogs, made a statement in court along with an adviser who has treated Mr. Hunter.
His attorney told the court that he had voluntarily given up on the vice captain and experienced “a feeling of embarrassment, humiliation and shame”.
He said he had to pay for the damage to the cars – which was likely “not negligible” – as his insurance would not cover an accident for which he was responsible.
Ms. Hodgson said the experience should deter “like-minded people” from drinking and driving.
“I don’t have to tell anyone at the bar table that driving with drinks is a very serious crime,” she said.
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