Ingham court: Trio of men in court on Hinchinbrook drink-drive charges

A Hinchinbrook man who was lucky to avoid death in a car crash has had his drink-driving sentence reduced because of the money he still owes on his totalled ute.

Douglas Walker Watt outside the Ingham Magistrates Court. Picture: Cameron Bates

A Hinchinbrook man who miraculously avoided death or permanent injury in a serious car crash has had his drink-driving sentence reduced because of the money he still owes on his totalled ute.

Douglas Walker Watt pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to the sole charge of driving under the influence of alcohol (UIL) after surviving the wreck on Victoria Mill Rd on March 29.

Watt’s good luck continued in court, with a previous low-range drink-drive conviction falling just inside the last five years but the prosecution not issuing a notice to allege the prior traffic offence that would have increased the severity of the sentence.

Prosecutor Danny Burke noted from the outset, however, that Watt’s breath-alcohol content reading on March 29 was 0.164, well over three times the legal limit.

He said Ingham Police were called to reports that a car had “flipped and rolled” in a single-vehicle accident on the rural road at 7.29pm on a Saturday.

“Police observed a vehicle flipped on its side in a grass paddock … it had substantial damage to its sides and the roof of the vehicle due to the impact.”

Mr Burke said Watt was knocked out in the “concerning” accident.

“It’s good luck more than good management that there weren’t any further injuries.”

In response to questioning from Magistrate Cathy McLennan, the self-represented Watt said the ute was a 2022 VW Amarok 4X4 utility that cost $38,000 with $8000 still left to pay off.

Watt, who provided a character reference to court, confirmed that he had suffered injuries that required hospitalisation and five staples to his head.

He said he was seeking professional assistance for his problem drinking.

“I’m lucky and other people are lucky that something worse didn’t happen, and I understand that.”

Magistrate Cathy McLennan praised the defendant’s insight and took into account the significant financial fallout in the wake of the crash and injuries suffered.

Watt was convicted, fined $600 and banned from driving for six months.

John Dametto

John Dametto outside the Ingham Magistrates Court. Picture: Cameron Bates

A Hinchinbrook cane farmer and harvesting contractor with an “excellent traffic history” pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to drink-driving on a notorious section of the Bruce Highway.

John Dametto, 66, admitted to driving well over the general breath-alcohol limit of 0.05 per cent with a reading of 0.084 percent when he was busted at Gairloch north of Ingham.

Prosecutor Danny Burke said the defendant was stopped in a random traffic intercept and was cooperative with police.

“I just made a mistake on the day,” the business owner said.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan asked the defendant if he was prepared for a licence disqualification.

“I’ve got employees that can drive me around.”

Dametto was convicted, fined $700 and banned from driving for one month, the minimum-mandatory period.

Magistrate McLennan said the sentence was “slightly unusual” given the reading approached double the limit.

“But I see you are 66 years of age and you’ve got an excellent traffic history.”

John Dametto was convicted of drink driving, fined $700 and banned from driving for one month. Picture: Cameron Bates

Jamie Sibley

Jamie Mark Sibley reaped the consequences of failing to cooperate with police during a traffic stop.

The former traditional cultural monitoring officer, 31, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to drug driving in Davidson St on a probationary licence on January 28 and a second charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath or blood following a police intercept in Cardwell on the Cassowary Coast on February 15.

Prosecutor Danny Burke submitted a two-page criminal history and one-page traffic history to the court, highlighting a previous drug-drive conviction in the last two years, as well as another in 2018 and a drink-drive conviction in 2016.

He said that in the first incident, Sibley tested positive for cannabis, while in the second, he complied with the road-side test but refused to provide a specimen of saliva or blood at the police station.

Mr Burke said the failing to provide charge was the equivalent of a UIL charge, cumulative to any disqualification on the first charge.

“He is starting to teeter on the edge of a community-based order.”

Defence lawyer Alena Cernusco urged a significant fine.

Sibley was convicted of both charges, fined a total of $1000 and banned from driving for nine months.

Due to the effective UIL conviction, the defendant will be required to fit an interlock device in his vehicle once his licence was reissued.

Originally published as Ingham court: Trio of men in court on Hinchinbrook drink-drive charges