Revealed: Latest round of Western Downs drink or drug drivers named
The latest round of drink or drug driving offenders have faced Western Downs courts for their dangerous, booze or drug fuelled behaviour. FULL LIST.
Police & Courts
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A father of ten told a court he thought the pills he had taken days prior to getting behind the wheel were out of his system.
Michael John Weatherall appeared at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on June 8 after being busted with not one but two drugs in his system.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Weatherall was intercepted by police when driving on Alfred St at St George on November 22 and tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system.
Sergeant Hutchins told the court the man who now resided in Chinchilla has a history of drugs.
Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said his client admitted to taking drugs days before driving.
“He said a couple days prior he had taken a couple pills and believed they exited his system before driving,” Mr Skuse said.
Weatherall pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving.
He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.
A Tara man who had no excuse for his reckless actions, and who lives more than 20km outside of town, will pay the price after he was busted driving over the general alcohol limit.
Derek Mark Brereton appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on June 6 after he was intercepted by police driving on Bennetts School Rd at Tara.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady said the man provided a BAC reading of 0.084.
When asked if he had anything to say by Magistrate Kyna Morice, the man said no.
The magistrate warned the man of his loss of licence and asked how it would impact him.
“I’ll hopefully get someone to come into town with me,” he said.
Brereton pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.
He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for two months.
A man who claimed to only drinking “six to seven” standard drinks over the court of five hours has wound up in court after drinking driving.
Paul Michael Mooney told Dalby Magistrates Court on May 30 that he had been doing work around the yard while drinking throughout the day before he decided to get behind the wheel of a car.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady said the 54-year-old presented a BAC reading of 0.083.
Defence lawyer Michael Bond said the Dalby man, who had moved to the region to manage a transport company, was working on the yard from 11am to 5pm, and had no more than seven drinks.
“He thought he would be under, he’s never done anything like this before,” Mr Bond said.
Magistrate Kyna Morice acknowledged the man’s lack of history with him having only a low speeding matter.
“You’re in a unique position, you should be well and truly aware of the impact of how you drive and how it impacts the way you work,” Ms Morice said.
“It’s a story I hear many times, you possibly didn’t eat enough and it appears it was out of character.”
Mooney pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.
He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one month.
A good Samaritan’s own selfless actions led to a court date after he was found to be over the legal drinking limit when he pulled over to help a crash victim.
Henry Edward Hall pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to mid-range drink driving.
When police were speaking with Hall to get his version of events, they breath tested him after smelling liquor on his breath.
With a reading of 0.123, Hall told the court he was drinking to celebrate Australia Day.
He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
A man who downed four glasses of wine to help him get to sleep made the mistake of jumping behind the wheel, thinking he was under the limit after taking medication the next morning.
Erik Kenyon Liljegren pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to mid-range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Liljegren had a blood alcohol reading of 0.104 after a random breath test.
Liljegren said he had been drinking to cope with the severe anxiety he has suffered from the past three months.
“I couldn’t sleep as per usual, I drank two glasses of wine and still couldn’t go to sleep so I had one or two more - this was between 1am-5am,” he said.
“I took the medication at 8am and I drove at 2pm thinking I was fine.
“I regret what I could have caused, but I felt fine at that time but clearly I wasn’t.”
Magistrate Kyna Morice said she accepted Liljegren’s perception may have been obscured after mixing medication and alcohol.
“I accept you certainly didn’t expect that you were over the limit. You were very much over the limit. You were over double (the limit).
“But in the circumstances it may have been obscured because of the medication you were taking as well. All the more reason why you shouldn’t be mixing them.”
Liljegren was fined $400 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
An unlicensed woman who ‘miscalculated’ the number of drinks she had has landed in court.
Jennifer White pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drink driving and driving without a licence.
Police intercepted White on April 1 along Heeney St, Chinchilla for a breath test and licence check.
With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.068, White said she miscalculated how much she had been drinking and “had no idea her licence expired.”
She was fined $600 for both offences and disqualified from driving for three months. Convictions were recorded.
A Dalby man who claimed he “might” be getting “too old for drugs” has found himself in court again.
Darren James Farnham fronted Dalby Magistrates Court on March 28 where pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving.
The court was told police were dealing with a separate matter involving the man when they gave him a roadside drug test.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the man, who has a history of drug-related offences, presented a positive reading for meth on January 29 after driving on Orpen St.
“If he chooses to keep consuming drugs and driving, courts will seek him to get rehabilitation or look at other options,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
Magistrate Kyna Morice reminded the Dalby man he needed to address his “drug problem” otherwise he would continuously wind up in front of the courts.
“I might be getting too old for drugs,” Farnham said, to which Ms Morice replied, “I hope so”.
Farnham was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for three months.
A young man added a third drink driving offence in three years to his criminal history after his ex called the police after she noticed him drive by her Dalby home.
Billy Jack Heyze appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on March 23 after he was found by police near the Dalby street among long grass, having consumed alcohol before getting on a trail bike.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 21-year-old had woken other members in residential homes from the noise.
“It’s a completely an offroad bike,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
“Clearly alcohol issues are something he needs to address, he’s come back again with another drink driving offence.”
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client was dealing with personal issues at the time, to which he resorted to alcohol use.
“He made a bad decision,” she said.
Magistrate Kyna Morice reminded the young man it was important for him to address underlying mental health issues he may be facing.
Heyze pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving without a licence, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
He was sentenced to 10 months probation and disqualified from driving for six months.
A qualified chef who was caught drug driving has blamed the stresses of a miscarriage for his behaviour.
Johnathon David Charles pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to driving with cannabis in his system.
On December 25, 2022 Toowoomba Highway Patrol intercepted Charles for a drug test which came back positive.
Charles explained that his partner “had a miscarriage and (he) had a smoke to calm down”.
Taking into account the defendant has no prior history of drug driving, the magistrate gave him a $400 fine and minimum one month driving disqualification.
An operator driver who lost his job for drug driving has been deemed by the magistrate eligible for a restricted workers licence.
Evan Thomas Dalzell pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving on the Warrego Highway at Chinchilla.
On December 24, 2022 police intercepted Dalzell at 10.30am for a drug test which came back positive.
He admitted to police that he had taken methamphetamine in the days prior.
Dalzell was handed a $600 fine and disqualified from driving for two months.
A father-of-three has faced court after being caught blowing nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit.
Joshua Desmond Hammermeister pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to driving while over the middle alcohol limit.
On January 22, 2023 Hammermeister was intercepted by police at 10.20pm for a drug test on Park Street, Chinchilla.
With a blood alcohol concentration of .139, the defendant lost his job as a result of the offence.
“You were nearly three times over the limit, you would’ve known you were over the limit so you should’ve known better,” magistrate Kyna Morice said.
Hammermeister was given a $650 fine and disqualified from driving for three months.
A mother-of-three has pleaded guilty to drug driving despite the certificate analysis not having been finalised.
Alexandria Hilda Ena Louise Carroll pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving on Glassons Street, Chinchilla.
When police pulled Carroll aside for a drug test February 17, 2023 and it flagged as positive, she admitted to using methamphetamine.
The 29-year-old, who has no other relevant history, was given a $300 fine and a minimum one month driving disqualification.
A Dalby mother has found herself before the courts again after she claimed to have had a “joint at Christmas” before getting behind the wheel of her car.
Krystle Lee Hickey faced Dalby Magistrates Court on February 28 after she was busted drug driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the mother of five had three prior driving offences, when she was intercepted by Dalby police for a random roadside drug test which returned a positive reading for cannabis.
Magistrate Kyna Morice asked the woman why she kept getting behind the wheel while on drugs.
The mother said she started using marijuana after an accident in 2010 that caused her back issues and it helped to “relax her muscles”.
“I don’t take it and go out and commit crimes,” Hickey said.
“I had a joint at Christmas, I’m not a smoker anymore it was a one off.”
The woman pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving.
She was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for six months.
A court was told a Brisbane business owner was caught driving while more than three times the legal limit while visiting a friend in Dalby.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Benjamin Sean O’Brien drove his white Kia on Drayton St, January 28 before being pulled over by police.
“He was very talkative and appeared anxious when (police) told him about the breath test,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
The court was told O’Brien blew a reading of 0.176.
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy submitted a range of character references on her client’s behalf to show his good character, as well as a letter of apology from O’Brien.
“He made the poor judgment call to get behind the wheel,” she said.
Ms Molloy added that her client reflected on his actions and realised it was due to unfortunate personal circumstances that led him to make the decision.
Magistrate Kyna Morice noted the offence would have “implications” on O’Brien moving forward before handing down his sentence.
O’Brien pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence.
He was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for six months.
A man who was caught drug driving twice within one month at the end of 2022 claimed he makes poor decisions due to a brain injury.
The Dalby Magistrates Court was told Matthew James Campbell first got behind the wheel with marijuana and meth in his system on October 21 when he was stopped by police while driving on Albert St.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 47-year-old was caught again on November 9 on Edwards St, and on both times he was the holder of a probationary heavy vehicle licence.
The court also heard he drove an unregistered vehicle, and drove while on a suspended licence on separate occasions.
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client was homeless at the time which led to him not realising his vehicle was unregistered.
“He does have brain damage from a traumatic injury, and has schizophrenia and bipolar,” she said.
“He instructs he isn’t able to think clearly because of the brain injury.”
Magistrate Kyna Morice questioned the man’s drug taking and decision making.
“Perhaps the methamphetamines and cannabis use wouldn’t assist in decision making,” she said.
The magistrate acknowledged the man’s previous living conditions, as well as his mental health issues while sentencing him.
Campbell pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving while on a probationary licence, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving on a suspended licence.
He was fined a total of $800 and disqualified from driving for two years and six months’ total.
A mother who was sentenced at Chinchilla Magistrates Court said she was in the middle of dropping her kids to school when police busted her for drug driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Michelle June Swindle tested positive for meth while driving while on Old Gympie Rd in Dakabin on August 16 last year.
Swindle told the court she hadn’t taken the drug for six days before being pulled over.
The court was told the mother, who was driving without a licence, also failed to appear at her original court date in Strathpine, and said that her friend was supposed to let the court know of her absence.
Magistrate Kyna Morice reminded the woman it was her own responsibility to handle court matters.
Swindle pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving, driving while unlicensed and failing to appear.
She was fined a total of $900 for all offences and disqualified from driving for three months.
A repeat drug driving offender was given one last chance at receiving fines for her dangerous actions after she was busted twice in a matter of days.
Karen Lynn Morgan was told by magistrate Kyna Morice that she didn’t believe previous fines for her offences were acting as a deterrent, while in Dalby Magistrates Court on January 24.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told the court the woman was pulled over by police on November 20 last year and tested positive for meth and marijuana.
“Two days later, she was intercepted again and tested positive,” he said.
“She said she had smoked two to three cones and half a pipe of meth.”
The woman when given the opportunity to speak said nothing in court for her actions.
Ms Morice noted it was not the woman’s first time in court for drug driving.
“You did it in 2016 as well,” she said.
“The difficulty is, is the sentences don’t seem to act like a deterrent for you and it’s going to keep getting worse.
“I’m going to give you one final opportunity of fines, if you come back again you won’t get that opportunity and we will be looking at a different option.”
The woman pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving.
She was fined a total of $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months for each offence.
A jockey from Miles was asked why he shouldn’t be disqualified from driving for a longer period of time while in Chinchilla Magistrates Court after he committed a drink driving offence, eight months after his previous driving offence.
Luke James Miller told the court he had just left his driveway when police intercepted his car, where he produced a BAC reading of 0.128.
The court was told the man was attempting to leave an argument that broke out at home.
Magistrate Kyna Morice said despite his effort to not escalate an argument, he knew had done the wrong thing.
“You were previously dealt with for driving over the general alcohol limit in April last year with a reading of 0.084 just eight months prior,” she said.
“Why shouldn’t I give you a longer disqualification period?”
Miller said he had no answer.
The man pleaded guilty to drink driving.
He was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for four months.
A man who was found with drugs and utensils in his car while being busted for drug driving told the court he smoked it for medical reasons.
Michael Garry Blinco told Dalby Magistrates Court on January 24 he has pancreatitis which is why he tested positive for marijuana while driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the man, who was busted driving on Dalby-Jandowae Rd on December 4, admitted to police he had drugs in the vehicle.
The court was told police found half a gram of marijuana as well as a pipe.
“Unfortunately he has to lose his licence for six months due to two priors,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
The man pleaded guilty to one count of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils and drug driving.
He was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for six months for the drug driving, and a conviction was recorded.
He was also fined $300 for the possession charges and a conviction was not recorded.
A man claimed he “didn’t realise” he was driving twice the speed limit while in a 60km zone when he was pulled over and also busted for drug driving.
On November 16, 2022 police intercepted Jacob Mcmillan while he was driving on Fry St in Tara.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told Dalby Magistrates Court the 23-year-old was noted as doing 119km/h in a 60km/h zone, and when drug tested returned a positive reading for marijuana.
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client claimed he had smoked the drug five days prior.
“He said he was testing the gears after having his car serviced and didn’t realise he was speeding,” Ms Molloy said,
Magistrate Kyna Morice stated she didn’t accept the claim.
“That is just a ridiculous speed in a 60km/h zone,” she said.
The court was told that Mcmillan was busted again for drug driving less than a month after the first offence.
Ms Morice emphasised the importance of abiding by the correct speed.
“The implications at that speed, I’m sure you can imagine and that’s why there are zones where they are because they are frequented by people,” she said.
Mcmillan pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving and one count of driving over the speed limit.
He was fined a total of $1500 and disqualified from driving for three months on each drug driving offence.
A heartbroken Chinchilla man was caught drug driving with meth in his system, telling the court he turned to drugs after his relationship broke down.
Christopher Antoni Smoothy told Chinchilla Magistrates Court he used to only take the drug socially, but his use escalated after a break up and he has been clean since December 26, 2022.
Additionally, the 29-year-old father was charged with possessing meth and having tools associated with the use/making of a dangerous drug in the boot of his car.
He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one month.
On his way home after celebrating an engagement, a father-of-three was caught high range drink driving.
Brent William Hiles returned a BAC reading of 0.156 just after midnight in November 2022.
Hiles told the Chinchilla Magistrates Court he was sorry and blamed the foolish decision on “complacency”.
He was given a $500 fine and disqualified from driving for six months.
A 40-year-old man released from prison and was on parole has come before the courts for drug driving while on a suspended licence.
Ricky Edward Thompson was caught driving under the influence of methamphetamine just eight days after his licence had been suspended.
Thompson told Chinchilla Magistrates Court he was not in a position to be able to pay a fine, so the magistrate put him on 12 months probation.
Further, he was disqualified from driving for one month for driving on a suspended licence charge and disqualified for another five months for drug driving.
A man claimed he had only one beer before he got behind the wheel and blew over the alcohol limit.
Dalby Magistrates Court was told David Warren Tillack was pulled over for a roadside breath test on December 2, 2022 while driving in Meandarra.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the man, who represented himself in court, provided a blood alcohol concentration of 0.100.
When given the opportunity to speak in court Tillack said he had only one beer.
Magistrate Kyna Morice reminded the man of what often happens to drivers who get behind the wheel soon after drinking.
“Often if you’ve just finished drinking, your levels are higher,” she said.
Tillack pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.
He was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for seven months.
A Dalby woman has told the court she is on a new path after being busted for drug driving.
Police intercepted the mother of four, Shanelle Joy Baker, 37, while she was driving along Orpen St on her probations licence.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told Dalby Magistrates Court when the woman was pulled over the breath test returned a negative reading for alcohol, however the drug test showed she had methamphetamine in her saliva.
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client was preparing to start a new job in a couple days where drug testing was compulsory.
Baker pleaded guilty to drug driving.
She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.
No convictions recorded:
A 21-year-old apprentice carpenter who was caught speeding and drink driving late one night said he was checking up on his yabby traps, a court was told.
Mitchell George Smith pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to driving while over the middle alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on April 21 at about 11pm patrolling police noticed a NSW registered utility vehicle driving at speed along Zeller St, Chinchilla.
Police intercepted the vehicle and conducted a random breath test, with results showing a 0.108 blood alcohol concentration reading.
Smith was handed a $300 fine and disqualified from driving for three months. No conviction was recorded.
After settling in for the night at a motel and enjoying some mid strength beers, a worker who accidentally pulled into the wrong town got in trouble with the law when hitting the road.
Rylee Tomas Kendrick pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.
The court was told Kendrick didn’t intend to drive after knocking back some beers, but had mistaken where he was meant to be staying for the night.
However once he got back in the car and headed for Longreach, police pulled him aside with tests revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.053.
Magistrate Kyna Morice said she understood the offending was “out of character” and Kendrick had an excellent employer reference.
He was granted a 24 hour work licence considering the distance he travels and the varying hours he works.
Kendrick was fined $350 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for 1 month. No conviction was recorded.
An international drivers licence saved an 18-year-old man from tough Australian P-plater laws when he blew a positive roadside breath test.
Edward Roger Preston pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said police stopped Preston for a breath test in Condamine where he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.075.
“He’s lucky he’s on an international licence, otherwise if it was a Queensland licence he’d be on his P’s and have to do mandatory three month disqualification,” he said.
He pleaded with the magistrate to not record a conviction so the offence wouldn’t impact his Visa.
The British international was handed a $350 fine and disqualified from driving for one month.
A conviction wasn’t recorded.
A 28-year-old Warwick man who travelled nearly 250km in a taxi to appear before Chinchilla Magistrates Court has pleaded guilty to high range drink driving.
John Matthew Jasper was stopped by police for a breath test on December 18, 2022.
Police flashed their high beams at the white Ford Ranger, which was driven by Jasper, before it pulled over on Chinchilla Street, Chinchilla.
It was revealed Jasper had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.161.
The magistrate acknowledged how the wind turbine worker caught a taxi from Warwick and stayed in a Chinchilla motel overnight to stand before the court.
He was fined $1000 referred to sper and disqualified from driving for six months. No conviction was recorded.
A Dalby man claimed he was self-medicating while facing difficult times when he was busted drug driving, and found with a pipe under the car seat.
Jarrod Mitchell Phipps fronted Dalby Magistrates Court on March 28 after police intercepted his car while driving on Drayton St on January 18.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 27-year-old admitted to police he had consumed meth the day before getting behind the wheel and confessed to having a glass pipe underneath the car seat when they pulled him over.
Defence lawyer Robert Everest said his client was experiencing personal issues at the time and turned to self-medicating.
The court was told the man had one prior offence of like offending, and was remorseful for his actions.
Phipps pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving and one count of possessing a glass pipe.
He was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
Everybody appearing at Chinchilla Magistrates Court, Thursday, October 3
Here is a list of matters listed at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Everybody appearing at Chinchilla Magistrates Court, Thursday, September 19
Here is a list of matters listed at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on Thursday.