Bunbury drink driver loses licence

A Bunbury man has been fined after he was caught driving home from a boozy lunch with a friend with a blood alcohol level more than four times the legal limit.

Glen Michael Cantwell, 48, was stopped by police on Hynes Road in Eaton about 10.19pm on January 12 when he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.203.

Cantwell appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on February 28 when he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.

The court was told it was the second time Cantwell had been caught driving under the influence.

Defence lawyer Maxwell Owens said Cantwell had battled with alcohol “for decades” and on the day he got caught he had made the “dumb decision” to drive.

Mr Owens said Cantwell had met a mate at the pub for an early meal and a “couple of drinks” but he got “drunker and drunker”.

He said Cantwell had planned for his girlfriend to pick him up, but his friend got into a melee that spilled outside and he panicked and made the decision to drive home.

He said Cantwell was “devastated and shattered” about the incident and he had organised to do some one-on-one counselling.

He said his aim was “total and permanent” abstinence from alcohol and his remorse was genuine.

Magistrate Evan Shackleton fined Cantwell $2500 plus costs of $205.30 and disqualified his licence for 30 months.