Brent Michael Woodings pleads guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to repeat disqualified driving

A repeat disqualified driver claimed to have ‘pushed’ his car to another address to sell it when he was busted by patrolling police who recognised his vehicle at another location, but the camera didn’t lie.

Brent Michael Woodings was jailed in the Chinchilla Magistrates court for two counts of disqualified driving and driving during a number plate disqualification period.

A Chinchilla man busted repeatedly driving while disqualified by court orders was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs after the magistrate denied him one final chance.

Brent Michael Woodings, 30, pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to driving while disqualified, driving while disqualified repeat offender and operating a vehicle during a number plate confiscation period.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on June 6 Woodings’ white Nissan Tiida was immobilised by police and ordered to not be moved from a Chinchilla address.

However, days later Chinchilla police intercepted the same vehicle for a licence check on Middle St.

It was revealed Woodings’ was disqualified from driving by a court order in August 2022 until August 2024.

The court was told that again on June 23, ten days after the first disqualified driving offence, patrolling officers observed the same immobilised vehicle in the driveway of another address.

“Police spoke to the owners, who advised the defendant drove the vehicle into their driveway, and provided footage to police of the defendant getting out of the vehicle on their driveway,” Mr Hutchins said.

“(The defendant) originally stated he had pushed the vehicle there… (when) police questioned the defendant about the footage, he stated ‘oh I reversed it there’.”

Checks again revealed he was court disqualified and said he wasn’t aware of disqualification, but understood he couldn’t move the car during the immobilised period.

“He clearly has a history of like offending. It’s hard to submit that your honour doesn’t have to give him some form of imprisonment,” Mr Hutchins said.

“One would think without actual custody he’s not going to get the message. Imprisonment seems to be all that’s left.”

Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said he agreed the court only had one option and that was to impose a period of imprisonment.

“It’s the case that was suggested to him by his parole officer, your honour, that to eliminate the temptation of driving… he should dispose of the vehicle and sell it,” Mr Skuse said.

“He’s had conversations with his neighbour who resides two doors down… in relation to actually purchasing the vehicle.

“He’s driven it a very short distance to their address to enable them to inspect the vehicle and hopefully purchase the vehicle.

“If that had been the only situation, your honour, then I could obviously add some strength if it was potentially a one-off and it was in that isolated context.

“The unfortunate situation, your honour, is shortly that he drove again.

“He accepts the words of the magistrate should have well and truly been ringing in his ears when he turned the ignition key on.”

Acting magistrate Andrew Walker said while jail is typically imposed as a last resort in these sorts of matters, Woodings’ repeated defiance of the court has left him with no other option.

“One of the problems you’ve got today is your history,” Mr Walker said.

“If I’ve got it right, three days after being in court and given parole, he’s committed the same offence.

“It’s easy for me to say things here now, I wasn’t in your position back in the middle of June this year.

“Mr Skuse has urged me to give you a final opportunity… You’re committing the same sort of offence again and even though in some people’s eyes it might be justified, from a legal point of view it’s just not justified at all.”

Woodings was sentenced to nine months in jail for each of the disqualified driving offences, which is to be served concurrently, and he was convicted and not further punished for driving during the number plate disqualification period.

All convictions were recorded.