Former NSW police officer Scott Noel O’Mally has been sentenced to nine months in prison, with a non-parole period of five months, after being convicted of high-range drink driving.

The court heard O’Mally recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.353, more than seven times the NSW legal limit for a fully licensed driver. The incident occurred on March 24, when he lost control of his vehicle on Wyee Road and crashed into a safety railing. He was found unconscious and had suffered serious injuries.

O’Mally, who is from Lake Munmorah on the Central Coast, had previously worked as a NSW police officer. The court also heard about his previous criminal and driving history, including a 2004 conviction for bribery while he was a police officer and earlier drink-driving convictions in 2014 and 2018.

His solicitor told the court that O’Mally had experienced long-standing, undiagnosed post-traumatic stress following traumatic experiences during his police career. The court also heard that he had more recently begun seeking psychological treatment and attempting to address his alcohol dependence.

However, Judge John Arms said O’Mally had previously been given opportunities to address his mental health and alcohol-related problems. The judge considered the extremely high blood-alcohol reading and the danger created by the offending when determining the sentence.

The case highlights the serious consequences of high-range drink driving, particularly when a driver loses control of a vehicle on a public road. A blood-alcohol concentration of 0.353 represents an exceptionally high level of intoxication and significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death.

The incident occurred on Wyee Road and involved a crash into a safety railing. O’Mally was seriously injured in the collision and required emergency assistance. The court proceedings have now resulted in a custodial sentence.

The case also attracted attention because of O’Mally's previous career as a police officer and his earlier convictions. The sentencing demonstrates that former service in law enforcement does not prevent serious driving offences from resulting in imprisonment when the circumstances warrant it.

For the Central Coast community, the case serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. NSW drink-driving laws impose increasingly serious penalties as alcohol concentrations rise, with high-range offences carrying the potential for imprisonment.