Richard Charles Cheseldene-Culley fined for dangerous driving
A 29-year-old Curra man who caused a horrific crash on the Bruce Hwy was found on the side of the road in his underwear, a Gympie court has heard.
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A 29-year-old Curra man who caused a horrific crash on the Bruce Hwy and was found on the side of the road in his underwear has fronted court on a string of charges.
Richard Charles Cheseldene-Culley pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday to driving while suspended, driving under the influence, stealing from Chemist Warehouse in Gympie, failing to appear in Southport Magistrates Court and failing to give identifying particulars.
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The police prosecutor told the court Eumundi police were called to a single-vehicle crash on the Bruce Hwy on May 21, after a car was reported to be blocking the highway.
“Police attended and observed the defendant to be standing on the highway in his underwear, attempting to urinate on the road,” he said.
He said a female passenger told police an argument broke out after Cheseldene-Culley was drinking and taking pills, and he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
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He was slurring his speech and unsteady on his feet, and police found a combination of drugs and alcohol in his system.
He blew 0.092, and was found with diazepam, apozam and codeine in his system.
His licence was suspended, and he was on a suspended sentence at the time.
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Duty lawyer Neesha Maidwell said Cheseldene-Culley was a drug addict and an expectant father, who was remorseful for his crimes.
She said Cheseldene-Culley went into rehab after the crash at Eumundi.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan said the driving under the influence charge was “particularly bad”.
Cheseldene-Culley was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for seven months.
His suspended sentence was extended by one month.
A conviction was recorded.
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