Colin James Tanner pleads guilty to drink driving charges

A young father who had been caught drink driving only hours earlier was busted a second time while checking for engine damage after the wrong fuel was put in the vehicle.

A P-plater blamed a fuel mix-up when he was found in charge of a vehicle barely two hours after being caught drink driving, an Ipswich court has heard.

Colin James Tanner had been charged with drink driving with a reading of 0.125 about 11pm on April 10, and had returned to the vehicle about 1am the same night after his aunty complained of a mechanical issue.

Tanner, 26, a father of three from Redbank Plains, pleaded guilty to separate charges of drink driving and being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit.

Prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt said Murgon police intercepted Tanner just before 11pm and he tested positive with an alcohol reading of 0.125.

Tanner told police he consumed two cans of Jim Beam and cola. He was charged and released.

Sgt Voigt said it was after 1am on the same night when a police patrol saw the rear tail lights come on a parked vehicle involved in the earlier incident.

The vehicle was stationary and police saw Tanner walking away.

“He said his aunt had tried to drive it but it stopped working. He said he got in to try and start it,” Sgt Voigt said.

Colin James Tanner blamed a relative's diesel error for his second drink drive charge.

“He was charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle. He was breath tested with a reading of 0.121.”

Defence barrister Terry Strong said a relative had filled the petrol vehicle with diesel fuel.

Concerned about damage Tanner got inside and turned on the ignition to see if the engine worked.

“Police were in the area. He had no intention of driving,” Mr Strong said.

“He knows he should not have put himself in control of a vehicle.”

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said the incidents were really just over an hour apart so it was not surprising his alcohol readings were similar.

She said Tanner was only on a P1 licence and a such should have had zero alcohol.

She noted that he failed to attend court and was later picked up on a warrant.

He was suspended from driving since April 10, and had been demerit point suspended until October.

Tanner was fined $650 and disqualified from holding a licence for six months.