Sydney tradie crashes ute and blows 9 times legal limit – at Breakfast time.

By ANNA USHER

A Sydney tradie who was so plastered he couldn’t blow into a roadside breathalyser has appeared in court.

Matthew Paul Armstrong, 45, was NINE times over the limit when he crashed his ute on Willoughby Rd, Artarmon, at 7:45am on October 2.

Manly Local Court was told on Thursday his blood alcohol reading was 0.443.

Armstrong was so drunk he failed to provide a breath sample THREE times and required transportation to Royal North Shore hospital.

Magistrate Robyn Denes ordered a Sentence Assessment Report to see if Armstrong should be sent to jail.

He has pleaded guilty to one count of high-range drink driving.

In a police facts sheet tendered to court, Police said Armstrong was driving his white Mitsubishi Triton ute along Willoughby Rd at Artarmon, about 7.45am on October 2.

Soon after, he turned into Scott St, Willoughby, which is a “No Through Road”.

When Armstrong attempted to perform a U-turn, his vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier.

“A witness approached (Armstrong) to check on his welfare and (he) was able to get out of the vehicle,” the police stated.

When North Sydney Highway Patrol police spoke to Armstrong soon after they said he had bloodshot eyes as well as slow and slurred speech.

“He appeared to be having trouble following even basic instructions,” police stated.

Officers asked him three times to supply a sample of his breath, but he was incapable of doing so.

“On two occasions he was observed sucking on the breath test tube,” police wrote.

Police said the “risk posed by (Armstrong) to both himself and the wider public was “extreme”.

“The level of intoxication experienced by (Armstrong) alone was extremely dangerous to his own health, both short and long term.”

He will reappear at Manly court for sentencing on 16 February 2023.