10 people pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving while under the influence or without license
10 people pleaded guilty in Gladstone’s Magistrates Court to traffic offences, including one drunk man who crashed his car twice within 1km and another who crashed head-on into traffic. See the full list.
Police & Courts
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Ten Gladstone drivers have been brought before the courts on a number of drug or alcohol related offences, while others were caught driving without a licence.
Snapshot
- 55-year-old man crashes ute twice after falling asleep at wheel while over limit and told police he wasn’t the driver.
- 19-year-old man drives mate to hospital because of ‘sore hand’ tests positive to cannabis.
- 53-year-old woman “dishevelled, glassy eyed”, busted in shopping centre car park driving while on meth.
- 22-year-old man does burnouts while over limit in late night drive tells police “just having a bit of fun”.
Aaron Thomas John Ryan, 28, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving while a relevant drug was present in his system.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that on June 8 about 7.30pm, Ryan was intercepted by police while driving a green Holden along Glenlyon Road, Gladstone.
Ryan was then asked to provide a specimen of saliva for a random drug test which came back with an initial positive reading for methylamphetamine.
Sergeant Griffiths told Magistrate John Milburn the defendant had a three-page traffic history and one-page relevant criminal history.
The court heard Ryan told police at the time he admitted to using a substance but did not know it was methylamphetamine.
Ryan told the court he often worked away as an electrician on large mining sites and was hoping to obtain a work licence to drive the long-distances between sites.
Magistrate Milburn noted the offence came with a minimum suspension from driving for three months and while the defendant was requesting a work licence, he was ineligible because he had a previous conviction within the past five years.
Ryan was fined $800, disqualified from obtaining a licence for three months and a traffic conviction was recorded.
Gavin Steven Hair, 55 pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates to driving without a licence, suspended by court order, and to driving a vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths told the court Hair had crashed his ute twice in quick succession while over the legal limit driving along the Bruce Highway early in the morning.
About 3.45am on May 5, police located Hair inside a damaged Nissan Navara on the side of Fingerboard Rd, Miriam Vale near the corner of the Bruce Highway.
Police officers requested Hair provide a sample of breath for analysis which returned an initial reading of .121.
Investigations revealed Hair was driving north along the Bruce Highway before crashing his vehicle, damaging the front driver’s side.
Hair then re-entered his damaged vehicle and travelled along the Bruce Highway in a southbound direction before crashing his car a second time just 1km from the previous incident.
Sergeant Griffiths said Hair initially told police he was not the driver before making admissions that he was indeed the driver.
Police checked his ID which revealed he had been suspended from obtaining a driver’s licence subject to a previous court order.
Hair told the court that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and did so again after attempting to drive back home to Bundaberg.
Magistrate John Milburn disqualified Hair from obtaining a driver’s licence for two years cumulative, with six months suspended for driving while over the middle alcohol limit.
Hair was also fined $1850 and a conviction was recorded.
Ashley Ryan Watson, 22 pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving while over the middle but not high alcohol limit, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that in the early hours of Sunday, July 3, Watson was intercepted by police after officers saw him “manoeuvring in tight circles” on Chapman Dr, Clinton, near the roundabout which connects to Harvey Rd.
Officers pulled over Watson before he was subject to a random blood-alcohol test which came back with an initial reading of .115.
Watson told officers at the time that he had just left a 21st birthday in the areas and as it was 1.55am he figured it was not dangerous to “have a little bit of fun” while the roads were quiet.
He also told police that he believed and was reassured from others at the party that he was under the limit before departing.
Sergeant Griffiths told Magistrate John Milburn officers observed the defendant performing a 360-degree skid across the road while there was no nearby traffic, it is not alleged that there was any damage to property or persons as a result of the driving.
Defence lawyer Jun Papito told Magistrate Milburn his client accepted he should not have done it, no one was hurt, no property was damaged and he would not have engaged in the dangerous driving at the time if circumstances were different.
Watson works as a process technician in the Gladstone region.
Magistrate Milburn accepted defence submissions but reminded Watson the driving was “inherently dangerous” and defendants are frequently imprisoned for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and “within good reason”.
Watson was fined $1200 total for both charges and disqualified from obtaining a driver’s license for six months.
A traffic conviction was recorded.
David Michael John Tarrant-Banks, 40, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to possession of a dangerous drug, namely methylamphetamine, and driving under the influence.
About 8pm on July 2, police intercepted Tarrant-Banks driving along Martin St, South Gladstone.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court present officers observed Tarrant-Banks to be displaying signs of being under the influence and subjected him to a blood-alcohol test.
The test result showed no signs of alcohol in his system.
Sergeant Griffiths said officers observed the driver with dilated pupils, uncontrolled movement of his jaw, and that he could not sit still.
Tarrant-Banks was then detained and subjected to a search of his person and vehicle.
Police then located a small clip-seal bag containing less than a point (0.1 grams) of methylamphetamine, which police described as a “non-usable” amount.
As the defendant's indicia was inconsistent with his BAC reading, police arrested him and transported him to Gladstone Hospital.
Defence lawyer Jun Papito told Magistrate John Millburn his client had a relevant criminal history, however, it was dated back to 2018 and he had engaged in a number of addiction recovery programs since then.
Mr Papito told the court the defendant was a father of school-aged children and a suspended driver’s licence would impact his family.
Magistrate Milburn suspended Tarrant-banks from obtaining a driver’s licence for six months, fined him $100, and a conviction was recorded for both offences.
Kane Daryle Watson, 19, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving without a licence (demerit point accumulation).
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that at 9.45am on an unknown date in May, police had established an RBT along Creek Rd, Tannum Sands.
Officers observed a vehicle travelling towards the RBT before performing a U-turn which they then followed and pulled over.
Watson was found to be the driver of that vehicle and after making inquiries police established his driver’s licence was suspended due to demerit point accumulation.
Watson was about one month into a three month suspension when he was intercepted.
Magistrate John Milburn suspended Watson from obtaining a driver’s licence for six months, ordered him to pay a $450 fine, and a conviction was recorded.
Tracey Jean Mackay, 53 pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence and possession of a S4 or S8 medicine or hazardous poison.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that about 2.55pm on May 26, police intercepted Mackay driving in the carpark of the Gladstone Shopping Centre while appearing to be adversely affected by a substance.
Sergeant Griffiths said officers observed Mackay was dishevelled, glassy eyed, had difficulty maintaining conversation, and was going through sudden mood swings.
Mackay was then arrested and transported to the Gladstone Hospital where she tested positive to traces of methylamphetamine in her blood or saliva.
Defence lawyer Jun Papito said his client was entering an early plea of guilty and there was no assertion that her behaviour resulted in danger to any person or property while under the influence, and requested the disqualification to be on the lower end.
Magistrate John Milburn accepted the defence’s submissions and suspended Mackay from obtaining a driver’s licence for six months.
She was also fined $700 and a conviction was recorded.
Jake Sandry, 38 pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court possessing utensils or pipes used in connection with the commission of a crime.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court police intercepted Sandry inside a Holden Commodore at an unknown time on July 8 and detained him for the purpose of a vehicle search.
Inside the vehicle police located a glass pipe and Sandry made admissions to using it the same morning to smoke methylamphetamine.
Sergeant Griffiths told Magistrate John Milburn Sandry had a three-page criminal history and nine-page traffic history, and that at the time of the offending was subject to a probation order.
Ms Griffiths told Magistrate Milburn if it was a more serious offence she would have been advocating for a term of imprisonment.
Defence lawyer Jun Papito told the court it was an early plea of guilty and a high-range fine would be appropriate.
When asked by Magistrate Milburn if he would argue against a convictions, Mr Papito said “we’re past that”.
Magistrate Milburn ordered Sandry to pay an $800 fine and to forfeit the item to the crown. Convictions were recorded.
Edward Micheal Williams, 59 pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving while a relevant drug was in his system and failure to keep left of the two dividing lines.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that on May 18 about 10.30am, Williams was the driver of a white Mitsubishi Triton travelling along Ann St, South Gladstone.
While driving, Williams’ vehicle moved across the centre lines of the road and collided head-on with oncoming traffic causing the other driver to be transported to hospital with minor injuries.
Williams told the court he regularly used cannabis for pain relief but he hadn’t smoked weed for about two weeks before the incident.
Following the crash, Williams was transported to Gladstone Hospital for further examination where he tested positive to traces of cannabis in his blood and saliva.
Magistrate Milburn noted Williams wasn’t being charged for driving while adversely affected by the drug, but told the defendant he would have to make a decision between continuing to use the drug or driving because of how long it remained detectable after use.
Sergeant Tania Griffiths said Williams had a two-page traffic and criminal history and last appeared in court on drug-related offences and was seeking a lengthy disqualification because his offending led to another person being injured on the road.
Magistrate Milburn convicted and fined Williams $800 and disqualified him from obtaining a driver’s license for three months.
Matthew John Vickery, 19, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday, August 1, to driving while a relevant drug was present in his system.
The court heard that on June 6 Vickery was intercepted by police while driving along Breslin St, Gladstone with a passenger complaining about pain to his hand.
Vickery was subject to a random drug test where an initial positive reading for cannabis was recorded.
Defence duty lawyer Kathia Toledo told Magistrate John Milburn that Vickery’s reason for driving was because his friend had hurt his hand in a work accident and needed medical attention from the Gladstone Hospital.
Vickery told the court he accepted he shouldn’t have driven the vehicle and while there was the presence of cannabis in his saliva, he wasn’t adversely affected by the drug.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said Vickery made admissions to police that he had smoked about two joints in the days before driving.
Sergeant Griffiths told Magistrate Milburn the passenger who was complaining of the injury then told police he could drive the car the rest of the way to the hospital.
Magistrate Milburn, in his sentencing remarks, said he would reduce the financial penalty he would have otherwise to reflect the circumstances that Vickery was attempting to help his mate.
Vickery was ordered to pay a $150 fine, suspended from obtaining a driver’s licence for three months, and a traffic conviction was recorded.
Micheal Lawrence Wallace, 27 pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to driving while a relevant drug was in his system.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that on June 19 about 1.30pm, Wallace was intercepted by police while driving along the Bruce Highway, at Calliope, in a blue Toyota.
Wallace was subject to a random drug test by police officers where the initial reading was positive for cannabis.
Magistrate John Milburn told the defendant he had to decide between driving and continuing to use cannabis.
Magistrate Milburn ordered the defendant to pay a $300 fine and suspended him from obtaining a driver’s license for one month.
More: Capricornia weekly traffic statistics
High Range drink drivers detected last week included:
– 0.187 per cent Berserker Street, Frenchville
– 0.161 per cent Alberta Road, Alberta
High Range speeds detected last week included:
– 126/60 Feez Street, Norman Gardens
– 134/80 Capricorn Highway, Fairybower
– 132/80 Capricorn Highway, Fairybower
– 113/70 Yaamba Road, Kawana
– 113/70 Yaamba Road, Kawana
- 13 drug drivers detected in the Gladstone patrol group.
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