Warner had admitted guilt in the drunk driving case last month.
Former Australia opener David Warner has been convicted in a drink-driving case in a Sydney court, which also fined him for the offence. The former Test opener was charged with mid-range drunk driving after stopping short of a roadside testing location in Sydney's east on April 5 and exceeding more than twice the legal limit in a random breath test.
Warner entered a guilty plea to a charge of drunk driving in a Sydney court last month. Warner, driving a van, attracted notice on April 5, Easter Sunday, when he stopped short of a random breath-testing location.
Warner faced penalties under local traffic regulations for the mid-range drunk-driving offence, and the court had set August 18 for the imposition of the final punishment in the case.
The Sydney Court judge Clare Farnan convicted David Warner of the offence, and he will now need an interlock device to drive a vehicle. In addition, the 39-year-old was fined AUD 1,500 for mid-range drunk driving after attempting to move seats with a passenger on Easter Sunday as he approached a random location for a breathalyser test.
According to cricket.com.au, Warner's attorney, Awais Ahmad, contended that he should not be found guilty of the crime since he had received extra punishment due to media attention.
Awais informed the Waverley Local Court that international media, including ESPN and Al Jazeera, had reported on his client's indiscretion. Non-drinking cultures are more accepted in nations like Bangladesh and India, where Warner may look for chances in T20 franchise leagues.
His conviction for the offence has put his captaincy of Sydney Thunder in the next season of the Big Bash League in doubt. Warner was arrested after he returned home from Pakistan, where he was leading Karachi Kings in the PSL 2026 season. He did later return to Pakistan and resume his duties.
Awais also questioned the decision by NSW Police to issue a press release about Warner's arrest, given the relatively unremarkable nature of the offence.
"The consequences of his offending are profound. Commercial opportunities are being affected. The media onslaught thereafter has been quite profound," Warner’s lawyer told the court as per cricket.com.au.
According to Judge Clare Farnan, there was proof of hurtful remarks made against Warner and his wife, Candice Warner, on social media. However, she stated that the fact that children were in the car at the time made the offence more serious and that her decision to condemn him was based mostly on the need to discourage people from driving while intoxicated.
After Warner applies for an interlock licence and gets the device installed in his vehicle, he will be able to drive. If the interlock detects alcohol in his system, it will stop the car from starting.
(IANS inputs)