FULL LIST: Latest Ipswich drug and drink drivers named and shamed

From a wasted Tivoli dad who crashed through his neighbours fence, a concreter who repeatedly drove on meth, to an ice addict who’s lucky to be alive after totalling her car, here’s a full list of locals who fronted court this week for drink and drug driving:

Multiple Ipswich drivers were found guilty of drink or drug driving and taken off the road in Ipswich Magistrates Court this week.

By naming and shaming offenders The Queensland Times and Queensland Police Service are joining forces to tackle the scourge of drink and drug driving across the vast region to ensure the safety of all road users.

Ipswich Watch House and Courthouse. Pictures: Jack Tran

While many others fronted court on pending drink and drug driving charges, here’s a list of those who were sentenced:

A court heard Shannon Margaret O’Brien is lucky to be alive after she totalled her car on the Warrego Highway with meth in her system on June 6, 2021.

When police arrived at the scene of the single vehicle crash at Grantham they found drugs and drug items strewn in the car, and after testing O’Brien her labs came back positive to methamphetamine.

O’Brien told her legal representation that something had jumped out on the road and she lost control and rolled after trying to dodge the undetermined road hazard.

On Wednesday, January 19, O’Brien pleaded guilty to drug driving, failing to dispose of a needle/syringe, and possessing drugs and drug utensils.

The 33-year-old was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Multiple Ipswich drivers were found guilty of drink or drug driving and taken off the road in Ipswich Magistrates Court this week.

Tivoli dad Benjamin James Stringer, who also goes by Benjamin Salmon, ploughed his Commodore through his neighbours fence at 33 Lukie Crescent after downing a six pack of Jack Daniels.

Prosecutor Sergeant Paul Caldwell said police took the 37-year-old to the cop shop after the late night crash on December 7, where he recorded a blood alcohol reading of .186.

The court heard the self-employed painter had left his home to drive around the block to a shed he owned and used for work, although he didn’t make it far from his driveway.

On Monday, January 17, Stringer pleaded guilty to drink driving and was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 11 months.

Ipswich C&E concreter Troy James Hardiker was caught driving with meth in his system just weeks apart breaching a suspended sentence.

The 45-year-old was caught on September 27 at Redbank Plains and on the 8th of October at Swanbank.

On both occasions Sergeant Caldwell said roadside tests indicated Hardiker had been using drugs and lab results later came back positive to methamphetamine.

The court heard Hardiker was struggling with drug use and was placed on a suspended sentence in February 2021 after he was convicted of assaulting his partner’s ex-boyfriend and damaging his car.

On Monday, January 17, Hardiker pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving and was sentenced to a 12 month probation order and disqualified from driving for six months.

Multiple Ipswich drivers were found guilty of drink or drug driving and taken off the road in Ipswich Magistrates Court this week.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of an Ipswich dad after he failed to address a drug driving offence that occurred in late December 2018.

Duane Anthony Baker was at large for the crime for years and recently surrendered to Ipswich Police on Monday, January 17, and later that day pleaded guilty to one charge of drug driving.

When he committed the crime Baker was on bail for another drug driving offence.

The court heard the 30-year-old had been living in Sydney, New South Wales after a relationship breakdown with the mother of his children which also occurred in 2018.

The now, allegedly drug free dad returned to Queensland when the Covid-19 border restrictions ended.

For driving with marijuana in his system at Collingwood Park Baker was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for one month.