A French back-packer has received an $800 fine and a 24 month disqualification from Griffith Local Court for high range drink driving, avoiding jail time because he was leaving the country in May.
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Charlie Bonnin, 21, caught police's attention driving extremely slowly on south on Kooringal Avenue at 2.55am on January 13.
When stopped, police saw four people sitting in the back of the car, with two of them not wearing seat-belts.
Bonnin claimed at the time to have only had two beers, but when he blew a 0.151 reading he shook his head and lowered it into his hands.
He then confessed to having five VB stubbies after midnight. Magistrate Joy Boulos was told Bonnin would be leaving Australia on May 1, hindering the potential penalty of prison time.
Working as a fruit picker in the area for three months with this being his first offence, Bonnin, through a French Translator, expressed his "extreme remorse".
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"I've never done it in France and certainly never thought I would do it in Australia…I think about it every day… I am very sorry for having done this."
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