Food run lands drink driver in court

By Grace Carter

Nov 19, 2024

A drink driver who was more than three times the limit has faced court.

A drink driver who was more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit “just went to get some food”, a court has heard.

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Kade Kennedy, 38, of Tatura, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to drink driving.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Ethan Hamill said Kennedy recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.189 when police breath-tested him in Tatura on June 17.

CCTV footage showed Kennedy entering and leaving a car park in Tatura in a Suzuki on three separate occasions within 22 minutes that night, the court heard.

Sen Constable Hamill said the second time Kennedy entered the car park, there was damage to his car, including the front bumper and driver’s side mirror hanging off.

He told police he “just went to get some food”.

Kennedy’s defence counsel acknowledged her client’s offending was in the high range of drink driving, and said he had experienced “extreme remorse” for his actions.

She told the court he suffered from a range of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, and was on the disability pension.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble said in sentencing Kennedy, she took into account the high reading and his financial status.

Kennedy was fined $100 and his licence cancelled for 18 months, backdated to start on the date of the offence.