Steven Sanderson faces Gladstone court for drink driving

Drunk on rum, this Queensland driver kept “taxiing” mates around, but his service came to a quick end when he nearly crashed into a cop car.

Steven Sanderson.

A man who got busted driving his mates around while drunk on rum after a wake will likely lose his job as a result, a court has heard.

Steven Sanderson, 34, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday to drink-driving.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said about 12.30am on June 19, police were patrolling Gladstone in an unmarked vehicle when they approached an intersection on the Dawson Highway.

Ms Leach said police saw a Toyota Landcruiser, being driven by Sanderson, leave the carpark of the Rocky Glen Hotel.

The prosecutor said Sanderson drove towards a red light at the intersection and appeared as though he was not going to stop, forcing police to prepare for evasive action.

“Suddenly the Toyota Landcruiser broke heavily causing its tyres to lock up and a relevant screech was heard to come from the vehicle as it came to a stop, avoiding a collision with an unmarked police vehicle,” Ms Leach said.

Police intercepted Sanderson for a licence check and a breath test.

He subsequently returned a reading of .142.

Steven Sanderson.

Ms Leach said Sanderson told police he had been drinking rum since 9am and “taxiing people around since that time.”

“(Sanderson’s) last drink was moments before being intercepted by police,” Ms Leach said.

The court heard Sanderson had a two-page traffic history which included a similar previous offence in the past five years.

Solicitor Sophie-Lee Oliver said on the day of the offending, Sanderson, who is prescribed medicinal cannabis and currently on Work Cover due to an ankle injury, had been at a wake for a friend who recently passed.

She said in the past few months, Sanderson’s mental health had “not been great” and he was in the process of getting assistance for that and also his alcohol issues.

“He instructs that his use of alcohol and medicinal cannabis is to avoid using over-the-counter pain killers,” Ms Oliver said.

“He’s aware that he has a bad relationship with alcohol and instructs that he began drinking and smoking tobacco at the young age of nine.”

Ms Oliver said this offending would have ramifications for Sanderson who is employed in industry “which does require him to have a licence”.

“He is remorseful (for) his actions and instructs that he is likely to lose his employment as a result of the (licence) disqualification,” she said.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne fined Sanderson $850 and disqualified him from driving for 10 months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.