Drink and drug drivers sentenced in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court

A Fraser Coast chef has admitted to drinking hand sanitiser because it was “cheaper” than booze before recording a blood alcohol reading more than seven times the legal limit. FULL LIST OF OFFENDERS

A chef, who drank hand sanitiser before passing out behind the wheel of the car at Urangan, was later found to have a blood-alcohol level more than seven times the legal limit.

Mark James Wecker, 32, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court to high range drink driving when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard when police arrived at the intersection of Miller Street and Elizabeth Street in Urangan on February 16, paramedics were at the scene helping a male driver.

The driver was Wecker, who was unable to walk and placed on a stretcher before being loaded into the ambulance.

Such was his state, he was unable to complete a breath test at the scene, but blood tests later showed he had a blood alcohol reading of .376, police prosecutor Senior Constable Sonia Edwards told the court.

Wecker later told police he had been drinking hand sanitiser because it was cheaper than alcohol.

There had not been a traffic crash, Snr Const Edwards said, but Wecker had fallen asleep in the intersection.

Wecker told the court he suffered from bipolar and ADHD, and was having “a bit of an episode” on the night of the incident.

He told the court he was working as a chef for Hervey Bay Boat Club and had three children to provide for.

“I’m sorry that I did it. It’s embarrassing,” he said.

The court heard Wecker had a previous high range drink driving conviction from 2015.

He had not been taking medication at the time of the incident, Wecker said, but he was now getting counselling and was taking new medication.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie told Wecker his blood alcohol reading was “an extraordinarily high one”.

She described his behaviour as “inherently dangerous”.

Wecker was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended with an operational period of 12 months.

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.

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Man caught drug driving on Old Bruce Highway

A man, who was caught driving with cannabis in his system, has been disqualified from driving for a month.

Juan Antonio Rivas, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard he was stopped by police for a random breath and drug test on February 28, about 8.35pm while travelling along the Old Bruce Highway at Howard.

He returned a positive result for cannabis, Senior Constable Sonia Edwards said, and made admissions to police about recent drug use.

Rivas told the court he was receiving a carer’s pension for caring for his wife.

He was disqualified from driving for month and was fined $350.

Motorcyclist busted with drugs in his system on main road

A motorcyclist has been caught out with cannabis in his system after he was stopped by police at Urraween.

Stephen Phillip Hardy, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

Senior Constable Sonia Edwards said Hardy was stopped on Maryborough-Hervey Bay Rd at Urraween about 3.58pm.

When he was tested for drugs, he made admissions to recent drug use, Snr Const Edwards said.

Stephen Phillip Hardy, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard Hardy was currently unemployed.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said driving with drugs in one’s system put other road users at risk.

Hardy was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for a month.

Intoxicated P-plater busted behind the wheel near police station

A provisional driver, who drank three tequila shots at a friend’s house, was later caught behind the wheel of a vehicle in Queens Rd, Scarness – the same street where Hervey Bay Police Station is located.

Mateeya Louise Kettleworth, 20, pleaded guilty to being under the influence while in control of a vehicle when she faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard on February 25, about 11.50pm, police were doing patrols of Queens Rd.

Kettleworth was sitting in her vehicle and told police she had been driving home from a friend’s place.

She admitted to consuming three tequila shots and returned a reading of 0.081.

The P-plater didn’t have an income as she was unemployed, the court heard, but she was looking to study and find work in the aged care sector.

She was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for three months.

‘Hair of the dog’ contributes to driver going over the limit

A disability pensioner, who was busted drink driving while taking his wife to the bowls club, has faced court.

David Andrew Clark, 56, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court to one count of drink driving.

The court heard Clarke had a beer before driving his wife after drinking the night before, describing it as “the hair of the dog”.

The man, who had no prior traffic history, was “really frank” when he was stopped by police, the court was told.

Clark was receiving a disability pension and had a limited source of income, his lawyer told the court.

He had ongoing liver and kidney issues and struggled to walk.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said Clark had never even had a traffic infringement before, but his actions had put at risk both himself and other members of the community.

“It was inherently a dangerous choice,” she said.

Clark was disqualified from driving for three months and he was fined $500.

Driver found in car side had ‘consumed 15 drinks’

A driver, who was found behind the wheel, admitted to having consumed 15 standard drinks before getting into the car.

Michael John Haskard, 63, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a vehicle when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

Senior Constable Sonia Edwards said on February 3, about 9.15am, Haskard was found behind the wheel of his vehicle on Pialba-Burrum Heads Rd in Beelbi Creek.

He admitted to police he had been driving before returning a blood alcohol reading of 0.219.

Haskard had been left stranded at Beelbi Creek when his car ran out of petrol, the court heard.

When questioned by police he was cooperative.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said the reading was “extraordinary” and it was completely inappropriate for him to be in control of a vehicle.

Haskard told the court he was unemployed and suffered from bipolar disorder.

He was fined $1200 and was disqualified from driving for nine months.