Churchill tradie Jake Nicholas Bignoux sentenced for repeat drug driving

An Ipswich magistrate has warned a repeat drug driving tradie that his meth use was putting “everything” at risk, in a display of “typical male behaviour”.

Churchill painter Jake Nicholas Bignoux (left) leaving Ipswich Courthouse on April 5, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich tradie has been warned he needs to “step up and deal with” his issues as he faced his fourth drug-driving offence in three years.

Churchill painter Jake Nicholas Bignoux, 29, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on April 5, 2023, to two counts of driving with a relevant drug present in his saliva on a probationary licence.

The court heard he drove with meth present in his system on two occasions in early 2023 – first in Yamanto on January 20, and second in Churchill on February 21.

His defence lawyer Gregory Ploetz told the court his client had believed the drug would be out of his system by the time he got behind the wheel – having used the drug nearly a week prior on both occasions.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Bridie O’Shea noted Bignoux had two prior entries on his traffic history for driving with a relevant drug in his system, with these two additions totalling four drug drive offences in three years.

Mr Ploetz said his client had struggled in recent years dealing with the loss of a close friend, and that his offending had been a “wake up call”.

He said Bignoux had since sought psychological help through the online service Better Help and had completed a Queensland traffic offenders program.

Mr Ploetz said the self-employed painter supported his mother, sister and partner in many ways and that losing his licence would have a significant impact.

Magistrate David Shepherd asked: “Does the reverse apply? In other words, does he seek some support from his family in relation to dealing with these issues”.

Mr Ploetz said his client “has tried to deal with these things on his own and is now realising that he can’t deal with them on his own”.

“Perhaps he ought to think about that,” Mr Shepherd said.

“The typical male response to problems is to bury it deeper and deeper.”

Mr Shepherd warned Bignoux that methamphetamine was “just a drug that will cause more and more problems” and said he was “putting at risk his job, his livelihood … everything”.

“You can see how quickly things deteriorate with that particular drug.

“It’s not weak asking for help … You really just have to step up and deal with it.”

Bignoux was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Convictions were recorded.