Shane Leslie Minard in court for drink driving

A K’gari resort caretaker cooked up a recipe for disaster when he slugged 23 beers before getting behind the wheel without a licence to help a sacked chef get off the popular island.

Scott Leslie Minard leaves Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on March 6, 2024

A K’gari caretaker who had never held a driver’s licence drank 23 beers before getting behind the wheel to help a sacked chef get off the island.

Scott Leslie Minard, pleaded guilty in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday to drink-driving and driving without a licence.

The court was told on February 5, Minard was pulled over on Eastern Beach on K’gari by police who were conducting random breath tests.

When asked for identification he provided an 18-plus identity card and told police he had held a learner’s permit many years ago.

He was taken to K’gari Police Station where he told officers the only reason he was driving was to assist a chef who had been “sacked” and had no means of transportation.

The court was told Minard’s wife was not prepared to drive the LandCruiser due to a mechanical fault within the vehicle so the caretaker got behind the wheel.

He told police the previous day he had been at the Orchid Beach Pub and consumed four schooners of XXXX Gold.

When he arrived home from the pub, he drank 15 cans of XXXX and told police before getting into the vehicle on February 5, he drank another four cans.

Minard had a breath-alcohol content of .130, more than twice the legal limit of a licensed driver.

The court heard that Minard had been open about his alcohol issues and had described himself as an alcoholic.

Self-represented, Minard did not deny the evidence put forward by police prosecutor Louese McConnell.

He told Magistrate Trinity McGarvie “everything you have heard is true”.

He told the court his work as a caretaker at Orchid Beach earnt him $500-600 per week.

Ms McGarvie suspended him from applying for a licence for 10 months and fined him $1000.

Convictions were recorded.

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