"I'm hammered," he told the officer, before the cop had a chance to utter a word, prosecutor Matthew Caputo said.
The 37-year-old man pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
He also was convicted of failing to attend court on June 24.
Denisch's driving caught the officers' attention at 2:53 a.m. when they were patrolling Fourth Line East, the assistant Crown attorney told Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek.
The accused was arrested three minutes later and was to be taken to the Sault Ste. Marie detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police for breath tests.
On the way to the detachment, Denisch suffered "a potential seizure" and was taken to the Sault Area Hospital, Caputo said.
Two and a half hours later, when breath tests were administered, he recorded readings of 174 and 175 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millimetres of blood.
The Crown called for a $2,000 fine - the mandatory minimum for a first offender with a blood-alcohol concentration exceeding 160 milligrams - and a $500 monetary penalty for missing court.
Denisch told the judge he accepts "full responsibility for my actions," has taken "steps to address my drinking" and is undergoing counselling.
He also explained that he had been in court on the June date, but left at 1 p.m. because he had to go to work.
Denisch said he came down to the courthouse the following day, and then went to the police station and turned himself in.
Prior to imposing sentence, Kwolek noted the accused has no prior criminal record, and suggested an absolute discharge, rather than the $500 fine, for missing his court date.
"I think you recognize your problem," he told the accused, stressing that "getting behind the wheel while impaired not only put your life at risk but others."
The judge then warned that "hopefully" he won't do this again.
Denisch was fined $2,000 for the drinking-and-driving offence and prohibited from driving for a year.
Kwolek granted him an absolute discharge on the failure to attend court offence.
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