Troy Michael Melbourne, 29, of Avenel, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to drink-driving, speeding between 10km/h and 25km/h over the limit, and driving without a rear L-plate on display.
The court heard Melbourne’s motorbike and a car collided on Mitchell St in Avenel on February 26, 2022.
Melbourne was seriously injured in the crash and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital with a broken arm and leg.
While at the hospital, a blood test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.157.
The results of the test were the subject of debate in a sentence indication at court, as the name on them had incorrectly been submitted as ‘Troy Michael’.
Magistrate Allison Vaughan ruled that the results of the tests would be admissible and that the results were those of Melbourne’s.
The court also heard that, as an L-plater, Melbourne had to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.00.
As part of the sentence indication, the magistrate found Melbourne not guilty of a charge of driving at a dangerous speed.
Melbourne’s solicitor, Sean Hardy, said it had “appeared the accident was caused by a car doing a U-turn in front of” his client.
Mr Hardy said Melbourne had gone to a hotel for dinner that night after spending the day riding his motorbike in a state forest with a friend.
Mr Hardy said Melbourne was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital after the crash, where he spent eight days.
He also had nine months off work as an electrician while he did rehabilitation for his injuries.
Melbourne was fined $2000 and was disqualified from driving for 30 months.
He was also ordered to pay $93.10 in court costs.
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