Harlem Jesse Ruwhiu pleads guilty to driving while disqualified, drink driving

A young father has given up his car after committing a series of traffic offences that has resulted in him being stripped of his licence for years and facing the threat of jail.

A TRADIE says he has ditched his car after being caught driving when disqualified and over the alcohol limit at the same time.

Harlem Jesse Ruwhiu, 29, a sand blaster from Redbank Plains, pleaded guilty to driving when disqualified on July 25; and drink driving when he went before Ipswich Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Sergeant Paul Caldwell said police intercepted Ruwhiu behind the wheel of a black Mazda 3 sedan at 5pm in Redbank Plains.

At the time his licence was subject to a court ordered two year and three month disqualification imposed in March last year for driving when disqualified, and driving with a relevant drug in his system.

“He said he was working on his partner’s car and driving to the shops to collect items for his parents,” Sgt Caldwell said.

Ruwhiu was taken to Springfield police station and tested positive with an alcohol reading of 0.09.

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said it was accepted that his offending had taken Ruwhiu beyond fines.

“He was doing a favour running errands to the shops to get items for the family,” he said.

Mr Fairclough said Ruwhiu was a sandblaster and a father of one child, and had gotten rid of his vehicle in order to remove any temptation to drive.

Harlem Jesse Ruwhiu has been disqualified from driving for three more years.

“He does have history that includes a recent driving when disqualified,” Mr Fairclough said.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said he had no reason to drive that afternoon and it was “a blatant disregard of road rules”.

Ms Sturgess said it was his third time he was convicted for disqualified driving.

“I don’t know why you think the rules don’t apply to you,” she said.

“You have six pages of history in six years so it’s quite appalling.

“You are staring down the barrel of a jail term.

“There is clearly no point in fining you, it is clearly not an incentive.”

Ms Sturgess said she counted five previous convictions for unlicensed driving and two for drink driving.

She other prior convictions on his history include failing to remain at the scene of a crash, speeding, and driving over double lines.

Ruwhiu was sentenced to four months jail for driving when disqualified, and 14 days jail for drink driving. Both were suspended for three years.

He was disqualified for three years.