A man who lost his licence for the 12th time just months before deciding to drive into floodwaters with "catastrophic" consequences has received a stern warning while being spared jail time.

Joseph El Jer, 40, attempted to drive across a flooded causeway between Narromine and Tullamore, in the NSW Central West, on the afternoon of September 23, 2022.

He managed to escape and pull three other passengers to safety when the ute was swept into Graddle Creek, but a five-year-old boy became trapped in his booster seat.

Police divers pulled the child's body from the water the next day.

More than three years later, El Jer was surrounded by supporters as he faced Parramatta District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death.

The 40-year-old has a lengthy driv

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