Man fined $3000 fine for golf buggy joy ride

A Bunbury man has been fined more than $3000 after he stole a golf buggy and tried to drive it home drunk from a wedding in Busselton.

The 18-year-old was handed a spent conviction over the incident when he appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court was told, the man was stopped by police as he drove the golf buggy on Chapman Hill Road in Busselton about 12.10am on November 26.

The man had taken the buggy from the Busselton Golf Club as the wedding he attended wrapped up.

The man was taken back to the police station where he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.097 and it was further discovered his driver’s licence had previously been suspended, the court was told.

The man pleaded guilty to one count each of driving with a blood alcohol level in excess of 0.08, having no authority to drive and stealing a motor vehicle.

The man also pleaded guilty to one count of breaching bail after he failed to appear in Busselton Magistrates Court on December 12.

The man told the court he was “very intoxicated” at the time of the incident and he had no money to get a taxi home.

He said he had plans to return the golf buggy after making his way to the accommodation he was staying at in Busselton.

Police prosecutor Sgt Karl Rep described the man’s actions as “stupid behaviour” but it was hoped it was a “salutary lesson”.

The man was fined $2600, plus costs of $430 and had his licence disqualified for a further 16 months.

Magistrate Mark Millington said the man was of previous good character and granted him a spent conviction.