Dennis Surprise dealt lifetime driving ban for drunken fence crash

A Broome man whose attempt to avoid being caught drink-driving came to a crashing end when he slammed through the front fence of a home has received a lifetime ban from getting behind the wheel. Facing Broome Magistrate’s Court on July 19, Dennis Jerry Surprise pleaded guilty to eight charges including property damage, driving under the influence, failing to stop, and dangerous driving. The court was told about 9.15pm on April 15, Surprise was travelling in a Ford Falcon on Guy Street with three passengers, when police flashed their lights and signalled for him to stop. Surprise did not pull over but accelerated, leading police on a dangerous chase while his passengers begged him to stop and “feared for their lives”. The court was told Surprise hit the boundary fence of a residential property on Pryor Drive, then proceeded to evade police on foot. Surprise was found hiding in the backyard of a property a few streets away and was immediately taken into police custody. It was later found Surprise had a blood alcohol content of 0.178. The father of three received a suspended prison sentence of one year and one month, and was banned from driving for life. Handing down the sentence, Magistrate Stephen Sharratt said Surprise was “trying to improve” but had proven he was not fit to operate a motor vehicle. Prior to the April 15 offence, Surprise had also breached a family violence restraining order on March 9.