Brisbane Broncos great Steve Renouf pleads guilty to drink driving
The 55-year-old was remorseful when he spoke to media outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, and also thanked the police at the scene who helped him when they realised he was having a medical episode.
New details of the incident came to light in court on Wednesday, including the health scare on the night.
When police recognised he was having a 'diabetic episode' or hypoglycaemic episode, they called his partner and then provided him with jelly beans and a drink back at the Brisbane City Watch House.
'I respect the decision of the magistrate … from my end it was a big mistake which won't be repeated,' Renouf said on Wednesday.
'It was one of those things that you fully regret.
'I apologise if I've upset anyone out there that has looked up to me.'
He also had a special shout-out to the police who looked after him.
'I couldn't do what they do,' he said.
The court heard that Renouf reeked of alcohol, was staggering, dropping things and slurring when he was busted at the start of July.
'You've got me, I'm drunk,' he said to the police before they breathalised him.
He tried to walk away from them when he was told he needed another test, saying, 'No, no, no.'
But he was not aggressive, the court heard.
His blood alcohol reading was 0.197 per cent, nearly four times over the legal limit.
His lawyer Angelo Venardos told the court Renouf had a 'foolish decision' when he chose to drive after a night out socialising at a venue in Paddington.
'He left the establishment and clearly made the foolish decision of getting into the car,' Vernardos said.
Renouf had actually made it to his home when he was pulled over.
'He was trying to walk inside, he wasn't being aggressive with police,' Venardos said.
'He's ashamed and embarrassed.
'He's clearly owning what he's doing … he knows he's a role model.
'He's had an enormous impact on the community at large … particularly (in) the Indigenous community.'
Vernardos called Renouf a man of 'great integrity' and said he had been doing some 'serious reflection' after the incident.
The magistrate decided not to convict Renouf and recognised that he was co-operative.
'He actually advised them that he was drunk and they got him,' she said.
'He has very favourable references.'
NRL coach Wayne Bennett was among the favourable character references.
In deciding not to convict Renouf, the magistrate said 'a conviction may affect getting a visa in some places'.
Renouf has never appeared in court before and has never lost his licence.
He said he did not think he had a problem with alcohol but promised to seek professional help 'to see where I'm at'.
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