Western Downs driving offenders sentenced in court for 2024 | LIST
Dozens of drivers have faced the Dalby Magistrates court this year charged with a slew of offences from drink driving to driving while unlicensed. These are some of the more shocking.
Police & Courts
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From a man who was found to be unlicensed after he caught on fire to a driver who accelerated through a crash scene, these are some of the offending drivers to face Dalby and Chinchilla magistrates courts this year.
NO CONVICTION RECORDED
• Tina Marie Covacic
Covacic, 51, fronted court on October 31 and pleaded guilty to failing to stop and provide information after a crash and driving under the influence of alcohol across two separate incidents.
The court was told that on September 9 in a carpark off the Warrego Highway, Covacic was parallel parked next to a shipping container when she reversed out without looking and crashed into the side of a bus.
Covacic said she “panicked” and drove away from the scene, with witnesses identifying her red Mazda.
Several days later on September 18, police observed a red Mazda with a smashed back window and rear hatch driving erratically. Police stopped the vehicle and subjected Covacic to a breath test, where she blew 0.117.
Covacic, who had no history of any kind, was fined $200 for the crash, $650 for the drink driving and lost her licence for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
• Angus Barry Billinghurst
A 20-year-old Chinchilla man who revved his engine and accelerated through a crash scene while a woman lay injured on the ground was hit with a hefty fine.
Angus Barry Billinghurst faced Chinchilla Magistrates Court on October 31, pleading guilty to eight different driving offences from two separate incidents.
The court was told on June 20 about 11.40am police and members of the public were tending to an injured woman lying on the road following a crash on Chinchilla-Tara Rd when Billinghurst accelerated at high speeds through the scene despite police displaying their lights “scaring members of the public”.
Police observed Billinghurst’s distinct car which had different sets of tyres and later arrived at his home, charging him with driving unreasonably, driving unlicensed, driving unregistered, driving while uninsured and possessing stolen plates.
Billinghurst told police he thought he had slowed down, but police body camera footage and witnesses told a different story.
Meanwhile on September 12 on Bell St in Chinchilla, Billinghurst was again detected driving unlicensed, unregistered and uninsured after having his licence suspended in June.
Police were called to the Woolworths car park after reports that a dog was locked inside of a car with staff calling out for the owner of a white Ford Falcon to come forward.
Billinghurst, who was aware he was unlicensed, hid in the store before attempting to sneak away from police, who noticed him as he drove away.
Billinghurst was sentenced to a six month loss of licence and a $1000 fine.
No conviction was recorded.
• Samual Anthony Phillips
Phillips appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on October 8 pleading guilty to driving while on a suspended licence after an incident on October 2, 2024, in Kumbarilla.
The court was told about 3.10pm police attended a call-out to the Mooney Highway after reports a car had caught fire.
When they arrived they found Phillips next to his vehicle and following a licence check they determined he was unlicensed as well as being an L-plate driver.
Phillips was co-operative with police and told them he was on the way to pick up his father-in-law and was aware he had been suspended on July 27.
He was issued a one month loss of licence, $300 was added to his SPER and no conviction was recorded.
• Beau David Wedrat
Wedrat appeared in the Dalby Magistrates Court on August 27 pleading guilty to two counts of driving with a relevant drug in his salvia.
The court was told that on July 9, Wedrat was subject to a drug test on Cunningham St, Dalby returning positive readings to methamphetamine and THC.
Nine days later on July 18 Wedrat was again subject to a drug test on Charles St, Dalby and once again returned positive readings for methamphetamine and THC.
The 21-year-old driver was on his P-plates at the time.
Magistrate Kathleen Payne questioned Wedrat about his employment, with him refusing to give a straight answer, telling the court he was employed but didn’t know the name of his boss, where he worked or what he did for a job.
When Ms Payne asked him to produce his phone and call his boss Wedrat suggested his phone was flat.
Ms Payne said Wedrat had “wasted enough of the court’s time and didn’t appear remorseful” and ordered he pay $700 in fines to go with a seven month loss of licence.
No conviction was recorded.
• Denai Leigh Butterworth
A 44-year-old Dalby woman with a significant history of road offences has had her licence suspended for six months after being found driving unlicensed for almost a year.
Denai Leigh Butterworth faced the Dalby Magistrates Court on August 13, pleading guilty to driving without a licence after police intercepted her vehicle on March 5 on the Warrego Highway.
The court was told Butterworth’s license had initially been suspended from April 24, 2023 to October 25, with Butterworth claiming she had been unaware that she was about to lose her licence due to her mail going missing.
During the suspension Butterworth entered into a good behaviour licence, at which point she received another three driving offences in quick succession, losing nine demerit points and her licence.
Butterworth claimed she was unaware she was unlicensed and was “shocked” when police told her.
She was suspended for holding a licence for six months with no conviction recorded.
• Ricky Nathan Landel
A 39-year-old Dalby man was hit with a hefty fine after trying to take the fall for a mate, claiming that he was the one behind the wheel at the time of a crash.
Ricky Nathan Landel faced Dalby Magistrates Court on August 13, pleading guilty to the single charge of making a false confession to police.
The court was told on June 14 Landel was in a Ford Falcon with two other people driving dangerously when they collided with two parked cars, fleeing the scene and abandoning the vehicle which was found by police in an undriveable state.
The following day Landel reported to the police station where he said he had been driving the car with just one other passenger and was at fault for the crash.
The court was told Landel was also reportedly vague with the details and said he couldn’t be sure exactly what had happened.
Police then checked CCTV footage and spoke to witnesses where they discovered Landel had in fact lied about being the driver and there were two people in the vehicle with him.
Following the seizure of Landel’s phone, the court was told police found messages from the real driver telling Landel, who had no prior convictions, to take the blame for the crash even offering to pay him.
Magistrate Kathleen Payne said lying to the police was a serious offence and he was “lucky to not be charged with perverting the course of justice”.
Landel was issued a $2500 fine and no conviction was recorded.
• Samuel Gordon Redding
A man who crashed his car while highly intoxicated and using his mobile phone has been hit with a hefty fine.
Samuel Gordon Redding faced Dalby Magistrates Court on July 2 where he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and a slew of other driving offences following the incident on May 14, 2024.
The court was told about 7.32pm they were called to the scene of a crash on Branch Creek Rd after reports a car had hit a sign at a roundabout.
When they arrived there was no car at the scene, however there was a trail of liquid which police followed to a backyard where they found the 34-year-old’s smashed car.
Redding was forthcoming with police and admitted to using his phone prior to the crash and submitted to a breath test where he blew a high range reading of 0.152.
When sentencing, magistrate Kathleen Payne took into account the out of character offending but warned Redding of the potentially deadly consequences of driving under the influence and using a phone while driving.
He was hit with a $2000 fine and a six month loss of licence.
No conviction was recorded.
• Michael John William Fairchild
A man involved in a single vehicle crash at Tara says he relapsed back into alcohol use after the loss of his “childhood sweetheart” the night of the incident.
Michael John William Fairchild faced Dalby Magistrates Court on April 2 charged with driving under the influence, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle.
The court was told Fairchild was driving his vehicle on Fry St at 9pm on February 10, 2024 when he clipped the gutter and lost control, crashing onto the footpath.
No one was injured during the single vehicle crash.
Police attended the scene and issued a breath test where Fairchild returned a reading of 0.209, more than four times the legal limit.
Fairchild told the court he had experienced issues with alcohol in the past, but had been sober for two years prior to the night of the offence.
He said he had relapsed after his childhood sweetheart and mother of two of his children had died.
Magistrate Bain said she sympathised with Fairchild, but asked him to consider the impacts of his actions on other people and asked how he’d feel if his children were hurt by a drunk driver.
He pleaded guilty and was issued with a six month loss of licence and a $900 fine. No conviction was recorded.
Everybody appearing at Chinchilla Magistrates Court, Thursday, December 12
Here is a list of matters listed at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on Thursday.
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