David Warner charged with mid-range drink driving after Easter incident
Consensus Summary
David Warner, former Australian Test cricketer and current Sydney Thunder captain, was charged with mid-range drink driving after allegedly registering a blood alcohol level of 0.104 at Maroubra Police Station on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026. His lawyer, Bobby Hill, confirmed Warner accepts responsibility for the incident, describing his decision to drive after three glasses of wine as 'reckless' and 'foolish.' The case was first heard in Waverley Local Court on 7 May 2026 and adjourned to 24 June 2026. Police allege Warner stopped his vehicle short of a roadside breath test station, and his lawyer disputed the timing of the second test, which took 52 minutes due to equipment failure. Cricket NSW has expressed concern over the allegations, emphasizing their stance against drink driving. Warner, who was in Pakistan for the PSL tournament before the incident, is expected to plead guilty at a later date and seeks leniency while acknowledging accountability.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- David Warner was charged with mid-range drink driving after allegedly blowing 0.104 at Maroubra Police Station on 5 April 2026
- Warner had three glasses of wine at a friendâs apartment before driving
- His lawyer Bobby Hill stated Warner accepts responsibility and will likely plead guilty later
- The case was first mentioned in Waverley Local Court on 7 May 2026 and adjourned to 24 June 2026
- Warner was arrested in Sydneyâs east on Easter Sunday (5 April 2026) after stopping short of a roadside breath test
- Warnerâs last drink was 11 minutes before being pulled over by police
- The second breathalyser test took 52 minutes due to equipment failure in the police van
- Cricket NSW stated they take the allegations 'very seriously' and advocate for safe driving
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Warner was on an Easter trip home from the Pakistan Super League, where he captained the Karachi Kings and averaged 51.2 with the bat
- The Fox Cricket commentator was charged with mid-range drink driving (not high-range)
- Warnerâs lawyer Bobby Hill said: 'Itâs not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the lordâs resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate.'
- Officers allegedly observed Warner pull his vehicle over as it drew closer to an RBT (random breath test) station
- Warner was excused from appearing at Waverley Local Court in the JMT building on 7 May 2026
- Defence lawyer Bobby Hill requested the case be adjourned until late June for police to consider representations made to them
- Hill emphasized that self-assessment of blood alcohol concentration is 'fraught with danger' due to factors like food, age, weight, and drinking speed
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC state Warner was charged with mid-range drink driving, but none of the sources explicitly clarify whether this is a high-range or mid-range offense in NSW law (though all agree it is not a low-range offense)
- The Guardian and ABC mention Warnerâs last drink was 11 minutes before being pulled over, but only the Guardian and ABC explicitly state the 52-minute delay in the second test due to equipment failure, with no contradiction on timing
Source Articles
Cricket star David Warner âfoolishâ and ârecklessâ when drink driving, says lawyer
Australian batter had three glasses of wine before being pulled over Warner expects to be punished but will ask for leniency One of Australiaâs greatest batters was both foolish and reckless when he drove after sharing a few glasses of wine with friends on Easter Sunday, his lawyer says. David Warner returned a positive result for alcohol after he stopped short of a roadside test in Sydneyâs east on 5 April, police said. Continue reading...
Warnerâs lawyer says actions âwrongâ
David Warner was charged with mid-range drink driving after allegedly blowing 0.104 at a Sydney police station.
Former Test cricketer was drinking wine before breath test, lawyer says
Former Australian Test cricketer David Warner will accept responsibility for a "reckless", "foolish" and "wrong" decision that resulted in a mid-range drink driving charge, his lawyer says.