A truck driver who racked up a string of traffic charges says he was ‘treated like a terrorist’ by police

A truck driver told a court he felt ambushed when 10 police surrounded him and ‘had their hands on their tasers and guns’ after he was accused of running a red light.

Truck driver Darren John Appleyard fronts court for string of heavy vehicle charges (file image).

A truckie who racked up a string of traffic offences said he was on the way to get number plates for his prime mover when he was surrounded by police and “treated like a terrorist”.

Darren John Appleyard, had his prime mover immobilised for 90 days after police found him driving an unlicensed prime mover and trailer.

But Appleyard, who has no residential address, told Gatton Magistrates Court it all stemmed back to the transport department accusing him of running a red light, which he denied.

“Why they needed 10 police officers to surround me, ambush me and treat me like a terrorist, and I noticed that two of them had their hands on their tasers and guns,” Appleyard said.

“I was simply going to the transport department to get new number plates.”

He fronted the Gatton Magistrates Court on June 16, where he pleaded guilty to 10 traffic offences.

He is contesting one further charge of unlicensed driving.

On February 4, 2020, Appleyard was found to be using his prime mover and trailer on the Warrego highway at Crowley Vale, despite the vehicle being unregistered and uninsured for the prior six months.

Police also found he had failed to maintain a heavy vehicle logbook since November 2019, and the trailer had no rego plates.

Police prosecutor sergeant Al Windsor told the court that Appleyard’s prime mover was spotted in Richlands six days later and also in the Ipswich area.

“Police spoke to the defendant who said, ‘I live out of my truck’, and refused to answer any other questions,” he said.

Checks also fund the vehicle had travelled about 2000km since being immobilised.

Appleyard said he lived in his truck because he couldn’t afford a home because he wanted to provide for his children.

“My actions at the time … that day I had a phone call from my ex. I suffer bad depression and was having a very bad day, mainly because I have four children and my ex has kept me off them for eight to 10 years,” Appleyard said.

“I couldn’t afford to pay the rego on the truck. I was taking it to Toowoomba to get some repairs done on it from a friend cheap.

Appleyard said he was “in limbo” to provide for himself and his family.

“I’m grounded. I’m just in limbo. I have child support bills to pay. No income coming in. I haven’t paid child support, or my bills and I have a lot of money to pay to SPER,” he said.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of driving an uninsured vehicle, two charges of driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to maintain a heavy vehicle work diary.

He also pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle during a number plate confiscation period, remove or tampering with a number plate confiscation notice and contravening police direction.

Two charges of failing to appear in court were dismissed.

Magistrate Graham Lee took 30 minutes to finalise his decision, stating he “trimmed down” the fines because they were all committed at one time.

Mr Lee fined Appleyard a total of $3000, which was referred to SPER.