A FOUR-TIME drink and drug-driver - "without an alcohol problem" - who smashed into a power pole, has avoided jail, but will be off the road for three years.
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Benjamin Charles Talbot, 29, made a conscious decision to drive after his friends dropped him home from a night out drinking on November 19, 2014.
The Launceston Magistrates Court previously heard that Talbot had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.21 when he accelerated past his friend's car and slammed into a power pole near his Riverside home.
Talbot was flung from his vehicle and denied being the driver when questioned by authorities. He instructed his defence solicitor James Patmore that he had "no problem" with alcohol.
On Wednesday, Mr Patmore told the court his client now realised alcohol had a negative impact on his life and he had stopped drinking, except for three standard drinks over six hours on AFL grand final day.
He said Talbot was also attending alcohol and drug counselling.
Magistrate Reg Marron had previously warned Talbot actual jail was possible, but Talbot escaped jail with a six-month sentence, wholly suspended for two years.
Mr Marron also fined Talbot $2500, ordered him to complete 22 hours of community work through the sober driver program, disqualified him from driving for three years and ordered him to complete a 12-month probation order.
Talbot's relevant prior convictions between 2007 and 2010 were breath or blood-alcohol readings of 0.131 and 0.108, and drug-driving on cannabis.
The 2007 offence occurred when Talbot was a P-plater with a zero alcohol licence requirement. Talbot had previously received a wholly suspended sentence and community work for other offences.
