Paul Sunderland, 51, was heading west along Longerenong Road, Murtoa, at 6:25am when police officers detected his ute driving above the speed limit on December 21, 2020.

Police detected his vehicle speeding at 120 km/h near the Longerenong Road-Sawpit Swamp Rd intersection and subsequently intercepted Sunderland.

The officers undertook a preliminary breath test, which recorded a positive result.

Sunderland was taken to the Murtoa police station where he completed a secondary test at 7.44am, recording a blood alcohol level of 0.111, more than two times the legal limit.

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In an interview with police, Sunderland admitted to consuming "heaps of full strength VB stubbies" the night before offending.

Sunderland's defence lawyer said Sunderland and his work colleagues had been celebrating the end of the pre-Christmas harvest with some drinking.

Sunderland defence lawyer said his client had been working heavily for a five-week period, clocking up around 270 hours.

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On the morning of December 21, Sunderland was returning to his hotel when he was intercepted by police.

Sunderland's defence lawyer said his client had felt "ashamed" since the offending and has been on the "straight and narrow" since the incident.

Sunderland has since moved to South Australia to continue working.

Magistrate Tim Walsh cancelled Sunderland's licence and disqualified him from driving for 22 months from the date of the offence.

Mr Walsh fined Sunderland $700, but did not record a conviction.

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