A father of six from Mildura has avoided jail time after crashing his motorbike while intoxicated, with his young daughter as a passenger. The incident occurred on April 30 when the man, whose identity is protected, lost control of the bike, mounted a nature strip, and collided with a mailbox and a fence.

During a hearing at the Mildura Magistrates' Court, it was revealed that the girl, who was seated on the back of the motorcycle, was unharmed but was taken to the hospital for precautionary observation. The father pleaded guilty to a charge of high-range drink driving, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.178, which is more than three times the legal limit.

The court learned that the man's driver's license was already suspended, the motorcycle's registration had expired just a week prior, and he did not possess a valid motorbike license.

The father expressed "overwhelming remorse" for his actions and acknowledged the danger he had placed his child in. His lawyer informed the court that the man has struggled with alcohol abuse for most of his life and has been seeing a psychologist since the incident.

Road Policing Acting Senior Sergeant Vanessa Power addressed the court, stating that the incident was the result of a series of poor decisions. "Generally, when people drink and drive, it's not just themselves they put in danger," she said. She emphasized the importance of safety, especially with the summer season approaching, urging people to travel safely.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan warned the man that he must give up alcohol permanently to avoid the risk of imprisonment in the future. "You're lucky I'm not considering that [jail] today. Next time there might not be any option," he stated.

As a result of the court's decision, the man was convicted and fined $400. His driver's license was canceled for four years, and he was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service within the next six months.