Silverchair singer Daniel Johns could face jail term after pleading guilty to drink-driving, court hears
Former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns could be facing jail time after pleading guilty to high-range drinkdriving, a magistrate has warned.
The 42-year-old is in a rehabilitation centre and was absent from a court in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Monday when his lawyer entered a plea on his behalf.
Johns wanted the matter dealt with immediately because it was causing him anxiety during a three-month rehabilitation program, lawyer Bryan Wrench told Raymond Terrace local court.
But magistrate Ian Cheetham rejected the request, saying the offence was too serious and there was a possibility Johns could be jailed.
Cheetham adjourned the case to 22
June for sentence and ordered Johns to contact Corrective Services NSW officers within seven days so a sentencing assessment report could be completed.
Wrench had earlier handed the magistrate an extensive report compiled by Johns’ defence team, including background information from medical experts and references from his parents and brother, in a bid to avoid having Johns interviewed by corrective services officers.
The defence lawyer told the court Johns understood the serious nature of the offence and had been suffering significant mental health issues for much of his life.
Wrench said Johns was a very reclusive person with a complex range of mental health issues and had been vilified by the media before he was charged with drink-driving.
“He’s dealt with the adverse impact of fame he never wanted. He doesn’t like it. His main focus is his mental health,” the lawyer told the court.
Johns was prepared to accept a ban on drinking alcohol as part of any intensive corrections order imposed on him if it meant avoiding jail, Wrench said.
Police said Johns was three times over the legal alcohol limit when his car crossed to the wrong side of the road and crashed into a van in the
NSW Hunter region about 10.30pm on Wednesday 23 March.
He voluntarily admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility after the accident.
Johns had driven his grey SUV out of a service station on the Pacific Highway at North Arm Cove and headed north before crashing into the van. Both vehicles ended up on a nature strip.
Johns was breathalysed and returned a blood alcohol level of 0.157.
The van driver, 51, and his female passenger, 55, were treated at the scene
and the woman was taken to hospital and discharged shortly afterwards.
Johns posted on Instagram the next day to more than 100,000 followers that he was going into rehab.
“As you know, my mental health is a work in progress. I have good days and bad days but it’s something I always have to manage,” Johns posted.
“Over the last week I began to experience panic attacks. Last night I got lost while driving and I was in an accident. I am OK, everyone is OK. I have to step back now as I’m self-admitting to a rehabilitation centre and I don’t know how long I’ll be there. Appreciate your love and support as always.”
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counsellor. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org