COMEDIAN IN COURT OVER DRINK-DRIVING
A comedian and actor who has performed on stages around the world will spend most of this year off the roads after a drink-driving blunder on the Gold Coast.
Dave Eastgate, who spent years as a mainstay of the Australian comedy scene, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court was told police were called to a “disturbance” at Benowa on February 3 after reports of what sounded like a car crashing.
It was heard Eastgate was grossly intoxicated when police arrived, recording a blood alcohol concentration of 0.19.
The 45-year-old has a string of credits in Australian movies and TV shows, such as Open Slather, The Moodys, and acclaimed drama series Doctor Doctor.
Defence lawyer Jonathan Nyst, of Nyst Legal, told the court his Logie-nominated client had performed at major international comedy festivals throughout his successful career, but had also developed a “very poor relationship” with alcohol while in the industry. Mr Nyst said Eastgate had undertaken years of treatment and counselling to achieve periods of sobriety, but struggled when his family did not contact him on his birthday two days prior. “He’s spiralled emotionally and relapsed, and drank for the next two days including throughout the day that this offence was committed,” Mr Nyst said.
“He’s deeply regretful and ashamed of his actions.”
Magistrate Louisa Pink commended Eastgate’s ongoing rehabilitation efforts and said she would take into account that he had already been without his licence for several weeks.
Eastgate was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for seven months.
No conviction was recorded.