A MAIDEN Gully man caught drink driving twice on the same night after crashing his car has lost his licence for 16 months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sean Downing, 20, appeared at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Thursday on two charges relating to a crash on Andrews Road, Maiden Gully, on November 22 last year.
The court heard Downing was driving his new Toyota Hilux on Andrews Road at 7.15pm when he lost control and rolled off the road into a tree.
He was uninjured in the crash.
Police attended and he provided a blood alcohol reading of 0.165, resulting in a mandatory loss of licence.
He was transported back to his residence
However, at 9.10pm on the same night, Downing arrived at the scene of the crash behind the wheel of a different car.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Tony Graham said police at the scene were surprised to see him again.
"He had left all of his personal possessions in the car and thought he would just drive back and get them," he said.
"When police at the scene saw him, they said, 'G'day, what are you doing here?'"
Police took another blood alcohol reading and found Downing to be 0.136 - still almost three times the legal limit.
Defence attorney Garry Quinn said Downing was "a young man who had made a foolish decision".
He said Downing had only purchased the Hilux one week ago for $65,000, having taken out a $62,000 loan.
The car was considered a near-total wreck after the crash.
The Hilux remained at the scene on Andrews Road overnight, when it was looted of all of Downing's belongings including basketball equipment and his spare wheel.
Magistrate Richard Wright told Downing "life is a learning experience".
"I hope you've learned a lesson from all of this," he said.
Downing had his licence cancelled for 16 months from November last year.
He will re-appear in court on March 28.