Gympie’s Michael Tristan Watts jailed for drink driving, disqualified driving

A landscape business owner was busted twice the limit and without a licence on a rural highway. His reasoning for the offending couldn’t keep him out of jail.

A 42-year-old Gympie region landscaping business owner has been jailed after he was caught driving twice the limit and without a licence.

Michael Tristan Watts was charged with driving under the influence and driving while disqualified from February 11, 2022.

The court heard Watts, who owns his own landscaping business, Mike Watts Lawn and Garden Care, was pulled over on the Capricorn Highway at Emerald, where he told police he did not have a licence.

The court heard Watts had been disqualified from driving in 2019 at Maroochydore, and was not due to get his licence back until 2023.

He was also breath tested by police at the scene, where he blew 0.103.

His car was then left on the side of the road along with tools and equipment, which he paid to have towed back to Gympie.

Michael Watts (pictured here in 2017) was jailed for drink driving and driving without a licence after he was pulled over in Emerald. Photo: Facebook

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell told Gympie Magistrates Court Watts was a repeat offender and had previously served time behind bars.

Defence lawyer Lisa Taylor told the court her client had been left stranded at Emerald at the time, after his businesses’ driver left to deal with family matters.

Watts knew he was not able to drive, but for the sake of his business, got behind the wheel anyway to get back to Gympie.

She said Watts was a struggling alcoholic and did not want to return to prison, after he claimed he was assaulted while behind bars.

Despite this however, acting magistrate John Millburn saw no option other than jail time.

Watts was sentenced to five months behind bars, and disqualified from driving for a further three and a half years.