A HORSHAM man has been disqualified from driving for 22 months after he recorded a blood alcohol reading of twice the legal limit on Australia Day.
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Ryan Hourigan, 30, appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
The court heard Hourigan was driving on the Horsham-Lubeck Road at 10pm on January 26 when police pulled him over.
Hourigan took a breath test, which returned a reading of 0.111.
Hourigan told police he had drunk five to six full-strength stubbies of beer over "a few hours" before getting behind the wheel.
"I've realised I did the wrong thing and I should have been more aware," he told the court.
The court heard Hourigan was employed as a truck driver.
The court heard Hourigan was caught drink-driving in 2008 and 2014. He also breached an interlock condition in 2016.
Magistrate Bruce Cottrill said Hourigan was lucky he wasn't going to jail.
"This is the third drink-driving matter, plus a breach of interlock, that has been before the courts. You know you could go to jail for this," Mr Cottrill said.
"If you drink and drive again, you will go to jail."
Hourigan told Mr Cottrill that he had stopped drinking after the incident.
Mr Cottrill ordered for Hourigan's licence to be cancelled. Hourigan will be disqualified from driving for 22 months.
Hourigan was also placed on a community corrections order for nine months and will have to complete 75 hours of unpaid community work.
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