Eight defendants fronted Gladstone Magistrates Court this week charged with driving offences
Eight people fronted Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday and Tuesday charged with either drink or drug driving. Full details here.
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Eight people fronted Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday or Tuesday charged with either drink or drug driving offences.
Jason David Loechel, 32
A Boyne Island man who took the punt to drive after smoking marijuana was intercepted by police, a court heard.
Jason David Loechel, 32, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday to drug driving.
A court heard that on Thursday August 19, around 12.44pm, Calliope police were patrolling Kirkwood Road when they intercepted Loechel driving a black Holden Commodore for a speeding offence.
Loechel submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and he was taken to a police car for further testing.
When questioned, Loechel admitted to smoking marijuana earlier that day and had no emergency reason for driving.
At 1.19pm a certificate was issued which showed the presence of marijuana in Loechel’s breath, he was issued a notice to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey told Loechel he had to increase the driving suspension he would have normally imposed given his previous drug driving charge within five years of his latest.
Loechel was convicted and suspended from driving for five months and fined $800. Convictions were recorded.
April Kathleen L’Estrange, 29
A Gladstone hotel manager blew more than twice the legal limit after having an argument with her partner at a barbecue, a court heard.
April Kathleen L‘Estrange, 29, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday to drink driving.
A court heard that on September 12, around 1.30am, L’Estrange was intercepted at the intersection of Bell and Wood streets for a random breath test.
She was detained following her first test returning a positive result, with her second test at 2.09am returning a reading of .112 per cent.
L’Estrange was issued a notice to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court.
L’Estrange’s duty lawyer Bianca Wieland said her client had decided to drive following an argument with her partner at a barbecue regarding who was driving home.
“She drove him (her partner) home to try and stop any further arguments, Your Honour,” she said.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey said because L’Estrange had already been off the roads a month he would bump her fine up and keep the driving suspension down.
L’Estrange was convicted and fined $900 and suspended from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
Linda Sharon Butcher, 47
A woman admitted to police she smoked methamphetamine “a few days” before being intercepted, a court heard.
Linda Sharon Butcher, 47, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday to drug driving.
On August 28, around 11.20am, Calliope police intercepted Butcher driving a Toyota Camry on Philip Street, Sun Valley.
Butcher submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and she was taken back to the police vehicle for further testing.
After her second test returned a positive result, Butcher said she had smoked methamphetamine a couple of days earlier.
She was issued a notice to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and fined Butcher $800 and suspended her from driving for five months. A conviction was recorded.
Robert John Taylor, 33
A man blamed a pie and panadol for his drink driving offence, a court heard.
Robert John Taylor pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday to the charge on drink driving.
A court heard that on July 31, around 7.05pm, Calliope police intercepted Taylor driving a Nissan Navara on the Dawson Highway, Calliope.
Taylor submitted to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result, and a certificate was issued displaying a blood alcohol reading of .058.
Taylor told police he had two schooners of heavy beer around 2.30pm at the Railway Hotel Calliope before drinking three or four mid-strength beers until 6.30pm.
Further, Taylor said he knew the drink driving limit in Queensland, however, did not think what he drank was enough to put him over the limit.
Taylor concluded his argument by stating he had only eaten a pie that day and the two panadeine forte he took that night was what he believed pushed him over the limit.
He was issued a notice to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Taylor’s duty lawyer Bianca Wieland said losing his licence would be very tough on Taylor, as he would struggle getting to work and picking up his children.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey said there was nothing he could do regarding lowering his penalty given Taylor’s previous like offending within five years.
“It is a very low reading, it's just over unfortunately for him but he has a previous within five years, you can’t get around that,” he said.
Taylor was convicted and fined $600 and suspended from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
Joshua James Taylor, 29
A man was intercepted driving with a party drug, potentially from the night before, in his system.
Joshua James Taylor, 29, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drug and unlicensed driving.
On August 29, around 5.25pm, Taylor was intercepted driving a black Holden coupe by police on the Dawson Highway, Calliope.
Police check on Taylor’s licence revealed his licence was suspended by SPER as of July 7, 2021.
When questioned, Taylor said he was unaware his license was suspended and offered no emergency reason for driving.
Taylor then submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and he was detained.
When questioned, Taylor made no admissions to recent drug use.
The test concluded at 5.51pm which displayed the presence of a relevant drug in Taylor’s saliva and he was issued a notice to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates court.
Police lab results found MDMA was the relevant drug present in Taylor’s saliva.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and fined Taylor $800 and suspended him from driving for six months. Convictions were recorded.
Richard Hans Crowe, 49
A man was intercepted by Calliope police driving with drugs in his system, a court heard.
Richard Hans Crowe, 49, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drug driving.
On September 14, around 12.43pm, Calliope police intercepted Crowe driving on Glenlyon Street, Gladstone.
Crowe submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and he was taken to Gladstone police station for further testing.
When questioned, Crowe said he had smoked marijuana, then said ‘no comment’.
Crowe’s second drug test concluded at 1.19pm and showed the presence of a relevant drug, he was issued a notice to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Police lab results found marijuana was the relevant drug present in Crowe’s saliva.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and fined Crowe $400 and suspended him from driving for one month. A conviction was recorded.
Kylie Marie Thompson, 46
A woman’s afternoon drive was interrupted by police which led to her being brought before the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Kylie Marie Thompson, 46, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drug driving.
On August 11, around 3.30pm, police intercepted Thompson driving a Volkswagen on Scenery Street, West Gladstone.
Thompson submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and she was transported back to Gladstone police station for further testing.
When questioned, Thompson admitted to using a relevant drug two days prior and a second test returned her second positive result.
She was issued a notice to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Police lab results returned a positive result for traces of methamphetamine in Thompson’s saliva.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and fined Thompson $400 and suspended her from driving for one month.
Mark Andrew Hofer, 57
A man drove on a major highway with drugs in his system and a child in the back seat.
Mark Andrew Hofer, 57 pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drug driving.
A court heard that on August 13, around 3.50pm, police intercepted Hofer driving a Holden on the Bruce Highway, Calliope.
He submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result and he was taken to a police vehicle for further testing.
When questioned, Hofer said he had used a relevant drug a few hours earlier.
At 4.47pm a second drug test concluded which displayed the presence of a relevant drug and he was issued a notice to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court and a driver’s licence suspension.
Police lab results concluded Hofer was driving with methamphetamine and cannabis in his system when he was intercepted by police.
Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and fined Hofer $600 and suspended him from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
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