Hobart drink driver avoids home detention because of WEAK WIFI signal

Serial drink driver who has appeared in court 16 times since 1979 avoids home detention because his house has a weak WiFi signal

  • Dennis John Watson pleaded guilty to drink-driving offences in a Hobart court 
  • Magistrate wanted to sentence Watson to home detention but changed his mind
  • Watson wasn’t sentenced to home detention due to poor WiFi signal at his home
  • He has appeared in court 16 times since 1979 on various driving offences 

A grandfather who has appeared in court 16 times since 1979 on various driving charges has narrowly avoided home detention due to the poor WiFi signal in his home.

Dennis John Watson, 60, pleaded guilty to driving unlicensed, drink driving and fail to appear after he failed a random breath test in October 2019.

Watson was sentenced to three months in prison, which was suspended, in a Hobart court on Monday for the offences which he committed before his wife died while waiting for a heart transplant, according to The Mercury.  

Dennis John Watson, 60, pleaded guilty to driving unlicensed, drink driving and fail to appear after he was pulled over by police for a random breath test in October 2019 (stock)

He had been caring for his 12-year-old grandson with his sick wife and the child needed a lift when he committed the offences. 

Magistrate Glenn Hay had originally intended to sentence Watson to home detention.

However, Watson’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi argued he wouldn’t be able to serve home detention as his home is ‘in something of a gully’ and has a weak WiFi signal. 

Watson has been ordered to front court on 16 occasions since 1979.

Magistrate Hay said this included 15 instances of driving unlicensed or disqualified.

In 2013 Watson was jailed for 18 months after drink driving while his licence was disqualified. 

Magistrate Glenn Hay had originally intended to sentence Watson to home detention. However Watson's lawyer argued he wouldn't be able to serve home detention as his home is 'in something of a gully' and has a weak WiFi signal (stock)

Magistrate Glenn Hay had originally intended to sentence Watson to home detention. However Watson’s lawyer argued he wouldn’t be able to serve home detention as his home is ‘in something of a gully’ and has a weak WiFi signal (stock)

Magistrate Hay said Watson hadn’t offended since his 2013 stint in jail until his current charges.

He said Watson didn’t have a history of breaching suspended sentences and the deterrence worked. 

Watson was given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for four years, a 70-hour community service order and a 12-month community correction order.

He was also banned from driving for four years and has to take part in a substance use program and submit to testing for alcohol use. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk