David Warner leaves court with drink driving conviction and $1.5k fine

Former Test cricketer David Warner convicted and fined $1.5k for mid-range drink driving In short: David Warner failed to avoid a conviction for mid-range drink driving at Waverley Local Court in Sydney's east on Tuesday. The 39-year-old recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.104 while stopping short of a random breath testing site on Easter long weekend. Judge Clare Farnan fined him $1,500 and ordered an interlock device on his car for 12 months. Former Australian Test cricketer David Warner has been convicted and fined $1,500 for mid-range drink driving. The 39-year-old stopped his car before reaching a random breath test site in Maroubra, in Sydney's east, during this year's Easter long weekend. Police said he returned a positive result, with a secondary reading later recording a result of 0.104. In July, his lawyer entered a plea of guilty. Barrister Awais Ahmad on Tuesday told Waverley Local Court Warner had been at a social function and getting behind the wheel afterwards pointed to "impaired, impulsive and frankly foolish decision-making". He said his client ought to have known that his conduct would attract media attention, that he is a role model and that even a short drive could have had devastating impacts. But Mr Ahmad submitted that Warner had taken responsibility and completed a traffic offenders' program. He urged Judge Clare Farnan not to impose a conviction, pointing to the fact that it was Warner's "first foray" into the criminal justice system after excelling in many aspects of his life. The court was told a conviction would have a negative impact on his future career prospects and commercial opportunities. "That commercial impact is real and something he will need to deal with," Mr Ahmad said. Mr Ahmad handed up material to demonstrate significant media coverage of the case, from BBC to Al Jazeera to mainstream media in Australia, and said some of it had been unfair and descended into personal attacks on Warner and his partner. And he said there could be little doubt that coverage would continue on the day of the sentence. "He will be publicly denounced," he said. Police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh said a conviction should be recorded because the blood-alcohol reading didn't simply "tip into the mid-range". "It's well into the mid range, a reading of .104," he told the judge. "I submit that specific deterrence is not entirely relevant in this situation, but the notion of general deterrence looms large. "(Warner) is not just a role model for his children, he's a role model for children and others all across the cricketing world." Warner was driving family home The prosecutor said the offending was aggravated because it took place in the presence of his children, and submitted that Warner's traffic history which "does him no favours" after 10 speeding offences and three instances of using a phone while driving. The court was told Warner has already been off the road for four months. In sentencing, Judge Farnan said the police facts recorded that Warner had consumed three glasses of wine at the function and was driving his family home. According to the facts, he stopped short of the test site and was seen moving from the driver's seat to the passengers seat. The judge said mid-range drink driving was one of the more common offences that comes before the Local Court. She cited figures that between 2022-2026, there were 17,383 people who came before the court for the crime, and of those, 10,083 had no prior record. "Mr Warner's circumstances are quite common in that sense," Judge Farnan said. The judge acknowledged Warner's participation in therapy and the traffic offender program, accepting he is remorseful and had reflected on "how quickly one poor decision on the road can have serious consequences". "Thankfully, on this occasion that decision did not have consequences for other people, but I accept it did have consequences for Mr Warner,"she said. The judge also considered a "thoughtful and reflective" letter Warner penned to the court explaining the circumstances. While she accepted Warner was unlikely to reoffend, she said broader deterrence against drink driving was important. "Regrettably, drink driving is still a significant factor in many crashes in NSW," she said. "It's a significant factor that results in trauma, and potentially deaths and injuries on the roads." Warner will be required to have an interlock device in his car for 12 months, but is eligible to apply for one immediately due to the period of time he's already been off the road. He left court without making any comment.