Former Silverchair frontman may face jail following Pacific Highway crash

Former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns.

 

FORMER Silverchair frontman Daniel Jones may face jail time after pleading guilty to a high-range drink driving incident that led to a crash near North Arm Cove.

Police said Johns had been three times over the legal alcohol limit when his car crossed to the wrong side of the road and crashed into a van on the Pacific Highway near North Arm Cove at approximately about 10.30pm on Wednesday March 23.

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He voluntarily admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility after the accident in which he remains.

Johns had driven his grey SUV out of a service station on the Pacific Highway at North Arm Cove and headed north before crashing into a van.

Both vehicles ended up on a nature strip.

Johns was breathalysed and returned a blood alcohol level of 0.157.

On 11 April, Johns was to appear in court, but due to his admission into rehab, a lawyer entered a plea on his behalf.

Daniel Johns has been vocal about his struggles with anxiety, depression, PTSD and anorexia-nervosa following a rare form of arthritis in his younger years.

Johns wanted the matter dealt with immediately because it is causing him anxiety during his three-month rehabilitation program, lawyer Bryan Wrench told Raymond Terrace Local Court.

But magistrate Ian Cheetham rejected the request, saying the offence was too serious and there was a possibility Johns could be jailed.

Magistrate Cheetam adjourned the case to 22 June for sentence and ordered Johns to contact Corrective Services NSW officers so a sentencing assessment report could be completed.

Wrench had earlier handed the magistrate an extensive report compiled by Johns’ defence team, including background information from medical experts and references from his parents and brother, in a bid to avoid having Johns interviewed by Corrective Services officers.

The defence lawyer told the court Johns understood the serious nature of the offence and had been suffering significant mental health issues.

Wrench said Johns was a very reclusive person with a complex range of mental health issues and had been vilified by the media before he was charged with drink driving.

Daniel was prepared to accept a ban on drinking alcohol as part of any intensive corrections order imposed on him if it meant avoiding jail, Wrench said.

At the scene of the crash, the van driver, 51, and his female passenger, 55, were treated at the scene and the woman was taken to hospital.

The police statement of facts revealed both cars rolled after the collision, but Johns and the couple in the second vehicle managed to escape the wreckage and wait for emergency services.

“The accused (Johns) was asked about his consumption of alcohol and admitted to drinking a bottle of wine and a can of vodka,” the statement said.

“The accused stated he was taking prescription medication.”

 

By Tara CAMPBELL

2 thoughts on “Former Silverchair frontman may face jail following Pacific Highway crash

  1. He should be in jail. If this were someone who poor, and had no fame, they would have been convicted. Stop giving this man a pass over mental health issues. Everyone has mental health issues these days, that doesn’t excuse criminal behavior. He’s a grown man.

  2. Everyone blames mental health. He has had mental health most
    Of his life . Mental health is over used , myself having PTSD and I follow the rules my daughter also had a stroke and mental health. X2-3 diagnosis and multiple medical issues. You still know between eight and wrong
    If it was anyone else they would have been jailed

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