Adrian Paul Dews, 44, of Warrendine Street, was driving a Black Holden HSV on The Escort Way, Eugowra, at 2.54pm on May 13 when he was stopped by police for a random breath test.

After returning a positive result, Dews was arrested and taken to Parkes Police Station for a breath analysis, which returned a reading of 0.159.

However, according to police facts, Dews did not appear to be visibly affected by alcohol and given his reading the police were surprised by his coherent state.

MAP: Adrian Dews was stopped for a breath test at Eugowra.

Police suspended Dews’ driver’s licence immediately.

On Monday, he appeared in Orange Local Court after pleading guilty to high-range drink driving.

Magistrate David Day said the offence was classed as a second offence because Dews also had a mid-range drink driving conviction within the last five years.

Mr Day disqualified Dews’ driver’s licence for two years and gave him a two-year community corrections order.

“His driving record is not good, he has a number of speeding matters over quite a long time,” Mr Day said.

“Mr Dews I suspect, while not beyond reasonable doubt, likes to drink and likes to drink too much.”

Because Dews no longer has access to a vehicle, Mr Day did not give him an interlock order, which requires drivers to pay to have a device fitted to their car so they cannot start the vehicle and drive if there’s alcohol in their system.

Dews was represented in court by solicitor Andrew Rolfe who raised the financial and personal issues his client was currently facing.