Drink driver got back behind wheel after visit to police station

A VARSITY Lakes property developer caught drunk behind the wheel twice in just over an hour has given police and a court different excuses for his behaviour.

Phrezweet Singh Sandhu pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to unlicensed driving and two counts of mid-range drink driving on the M1 and Old Pacific Hwy at Coomera in the early hours of January 27.

Police prosecutor Sammi Dutschke said Singh Sandhu was first stopped around 1.15am after officers saw his grey Toyota Hilux swerving on the Pacific Motorway.

The defendant confessed to drinking earlier that night in Surfers Paradise.

After returning a positive breath test, he was taken to Coomera Police Station where he blew 0.081.

“A 24-hour notice of suspension was issued to the defendant at 1.50am, where it was made clear that (he) was not to drive his vehicle,” Ms Dutschke said.

“(Singh Sandhu) clearly understood that he was not able to drive, by verbalising his acknowledgment.”

At 2.25am police in Coomera saw the same grey Toyota Hilux exiting at BP service station. “Police had only just released the defendant from custody for drink driving,” Ms Dutschke said. “Police followed the vehicle for a short distance, (watching it) swerving on the road.”

After another positive breath test Singh Sandhu was taken back to Coomera Police Station where he blew 0.072 at 2.49am.

Ms Dutschke said the 23year-old defendant gave no excuse for driving, stating “he just needed to go home.”

Defence lawyer, Matthew Mcgann of Ryan Murdoch O’regan Lawyers, said Singh Sandhu had been with a friend who was visiting from Brisbane that night. She was in the car when he was first pulled over.

The woman told Singh Sandhu she’d made her way to a nearby train station to get back to Brisbane, but had “become fearful”.

“My client made the further misconceived decision to drive and go help his friend,” Mr Mcgann said.

Singh Sandhu was disqualified for eight months and fined $1000 in total. No convictions were recorded.