Troy Benjamin Powell in court for drink driving

A Gympie region farmhand who crashed near Cairns while more than four times over the limit told police he’d lost control when he was bitten by a green ant.

Troy Benjamin Powell appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court on January 19, 2023

A man stood tall as details of his intoxicated drive to work were read to the Gympie court.

Troy Benjamin Powell, 41, pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 19, to drink driving with an illegal blood alcohol level of 0.227 per cent.

The court heard police were called to a car crash at Bramston Beach near Cairns about 11.30am on November 13, 2022.

A Suzuki Swift was found in a 3m deep ditch on the southern side of the road, police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said.

The car had rolled onto its right-hand side and police identified Powell, the driver, nearby after speaking to witnesses.

Powell told police he was bitten by green ants while he was driving along the road and lost control of the car.

Troy Benjamin Powell leaves the Gympie Magistrates Courthouse on January 19, 2023.

He blew 0.227 in an RBT – more than four times the legal limit.

Powell told the court he was out camping near Cairns with his friends and had a lot to drink the night before the incident.

He said he had left for work about 10am and had not felt intoxicated when he began his journey.

“You obviously were from the manner of driving,” magistrate Chris Callaghan said.

Powell told Mr Callaghan the Suzuki Swift belonged to a mate and Mr Callaghan asked how much he now owed his friend.

Powell said he had given his own car to his mate as a form of compensation.

“I knew I stuffed up so I said he could have my ute,” he said.

Powell worked at a banana farm near Cairns and had now started at a ginger farm in the Gympie region, he told the court.

He was fined $1300 and disqualified from driving for 10 months. Convictions were not recorded.