A driver who wanted to report a pub altercation was so focused on the squabble that he seemingly forgot he was three times over the alcohol limit.
James O'Mahoney had failed to get his priorities in order before heading to Colchester Police Station on December 29, resulting in his "rather bizarre" behaviour, the Daily Gazette reports.
Colchester magistrates heard that the 45-year-old was approached by officers as he sat in his car by the closed gate to the police station car park. But despite telling police that he wanted to report a crime, officers were more interested in the smell of alcohol on O'Mahoney's breath.
He was duly arrested - resulting in an unusually short trip the station - and was found to be more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit, blowing 114 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Defence solicitor Peter Young told the court that his client's strange choice of action came after a pub row with his housemates.
The argument had so affected him that he packed up his possessions and drove to the police station to tell his side of the story - something which was "far from the best thing to do in the situation".
O'Mahoney, who admitted drink-driving, was sentenced to 100 hours' unpaid work and banned from driving for 28 months.
Although January is yet to run its course, 2010 has already served up other cautionary tales of ill-advised driving choices.
Last week a motorist was jailed after a foolhardy attempt to drive away from Aidrie Sheriff Court - where he had just been disqualified from driving.
Meanwhile, only yesterday it emerged that a cocky young Brisbane driver gave an inappropriate salute to a woman at the wheel of a nearby car - unaware that she was Queensland's top police officer on a day off.
