COURT WRAP: Alleged prison escapee, drunk-driving hotel duty manager, woman accused of assaulting bus driver
From a man who allegedly escaped Townsville Correctional Centre on the weekend to a woman accused of assaulting a bus driver, here’s what went down in Townsville arrest court on Monday.
From a man who allegedly escaped Townsville Correctional Centre on the weekend to a woman accused of assaulting a bus driver, here’s what went down in Townsville Arrests Court on Monday.
Accused prison escapee mentioned days after fleeing prison
A prisoner who allegedly fled Townsville Correctional Centre’s farm on Friday night has had his matter mentioned.
Jared Dylan Carrara is accused of breaking out of the farm less than an hour before midnight on Friday.
The 32-year-old was found in Burdell on Saturday afternoon, not 24 hours after his alleged escape, and transported to Townsville Watchhouse.
Mr Carrara is charged with one count of escape by persons in lawful custody.
In court on Monday, duty lawyer Abigail Braid asked Magistrate Richard Lehmann for Mr Carrara’s matter to be adjourned to allow time for a legal aid application to be processed.
No pleas have been entered.
Mr Carrara was sentenced in Ingham Magistrates Court less than two weeks ago for 26 offences, with the most serious being when he cut through a fence at Ingham Police Station.
His matter was adjourned until December 16.
Supervising driver caught with drugs in system
A woman was supervising a learner driver when she was found with drugs in her system.
Grace Maree Fazldad represented herself Townsville Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to one count of while relevant drug is present in blood or saliva in charge of a motor vehicle.
Police prosecutor Shania Thomas said Fazldad was provided with a driver’s license indicating that she was supervising a learner.
“[Fazldad] said that she had smoked a cone, referring to marijuana, that she rolled herself the previous night,” she said.
Fazldad told Magistrate Lehmann she was sorry for her actions.
“I wasn’t made fully aware that it would be in my system the previous day,” she said.
She was handed a $400 fine and her conviction was not recorded.
Hotel duty manager caught drunk driving after night shift
A Townsville hotel duty manager has landed himself in hot water after being caught driving more than five times the alcohol limit.
Luke Foster appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving without a license.
Ms Thomas told the court witnesses saw Foster’s car swerving and driving in an unsafe manner just after 8am on Saturday, November 8, before police pulled him over.
“[Foster] appeared to be anxious and [police] could detect and smell liquor on his breath,” she said.
Foster told police he had been working from 11pm the previous night until 7am that morning and he was on his way home.
“He stated that he consumed five to six hand scotch drinks between the hours of 5pm to 10pm the previous night,” Ms Thomas said.
A breath test pulled a blood alcohol reading of 0.253, just over five times the legal limit.
The court also heard his license had been expired for 573 days.
Foster, who represented himself, told the court he was sorry for his actions, which he maintains were “out of character” for him.
Magistrate Lehmann accepted Foster’s remorse, however could not excuse his “extremely high reading.”
Foster was given a $2000 fine and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Alleged bus driver basher mentioned in court
A woman accused of assaulting an elderly bus driver in Aitkenvale on Sunday night has landed herself in court.
Rebekah Joy Bloomfield did not appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday as her matter was mentioned.
Police will allege the 33-year-old assaulted the 73-year-old bus driver on Ross River Road, before causing damage to the bus and attempting to take money from the till.
Ms Bloomfield is facing one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed in company, serious assault person over 60, attempted robbery and wilful damage.
No pleas have been entered.
Her case was adjourned until Wednesday, December 3.
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Originally published as COURT WRAP: Alleged prison escapee, drunk-driving hotel duty manager, woman accused of assaulting bus driver
