HARBROW SORRY FOR WINE ‘MISTAKE’

GOLD Coast Suns veteran Jarrod Harbrow has lost his licence for four months and copped a $700 fine for driving more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Harbrow, 28, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.108 when he was stopped by police in Mermaid Waters on June 5 for a random breath test.

The court heard he had drunk eight or nine glasses of wine with his mother the night before.

The AFL veteran remained silent throughout the court proceedings in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday and issued a statement through his lawyer Darren Mahoney.

“He made a mistake and he is sorry,” he said.

“You have heard him apologise previously.”

Mr Mahoney said Harbrow had thought seven to eight hours of sleep would have been enough to expel the alcohol from his body.

“He intends to dedicate himself to educating others so they don’t make the same mistake hence his comments about the Queensland traffic offenders program and his desire for other people to complete that,” he said.

Mr Harbrow said because Harbrow is an elite athlete it may have taken longer for the alcohol to be expelled.

A number of glowing references were tendered to the court, including from Suns coach Robert Ede.

The references also spoke about Harbrow’s extensive work with community groups and the Jarrod Harbrow Leadership Academy in which he mentors indigenous teenagers.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said there was no excuse for getting behind the wheel while drunk.

“Being a role model comes with certain responsibilities,” he said. “You have let yourself down with these actions.

“You placed innocent members of the community at risk.”

Mr Schubert ordered no conviction be recorded.