Nicholas John Grove sentenced in Ipswich Court for driving under the influence of alcohol

A Brisbane business student says he will have to pay almost $4000 in Uber fares after he tripled the legal alcohol limit driving to his mum’s birthday breakfast.

Nicholas John Grove exiting Ipswich Courthouse on January 10 with his lawyer Caprice Gobie-Smith. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A business student caught drink driving told the court he would have to pay a minimum $3850 in Uber fares to get to work if his licence was disqualified.

Moorooka logistics co-ordinator Nicholas John Grove, 31, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on January 10 to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.

The court heard that Grove had been drinking from 12pm on December 17 into the early hours of morning.

At around 9.30am on December 18, Grove left to go to his mum’s birthday breakfast.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Caldwell said Grove was pulled over on the Cunningham Highway in Willowbank for a random check around 9.55am.

He said a breathalyser test revealed Grove had a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 per cent.

Magistrate David Shepherd said there was “no sugar coating” Grove’s actions, which he said showed “bad judgement”.

Defence lawyer Caprice Gobie-Smith said her client had genuinely believed that he was no longer under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Mr Shepherd said “if that’s the case, (Grove) has absolutely no idea about the impacts of alcohol on himself, and therefore represents a considerable danger in future”.

The court heard Grove had three prior traffic offences on record but had a solid upbringing and work history.

Ms Gobie-Smith said Grove was a QUT business student and worked as a logistics co-ordinator.

She said her client understood he would lose his license as a result of his offending, but that his early work hours would force him to spent a significant sum on transport.

Ms Gobie-Smith estimated Grove would have to spend a total $3850 in Uber fares to travel to and from work if he received the minimum period of disqualification.

She also told the court that recording a conviction could potentially impact his future work prospects, as he would need to travel to Germany for work and a conviction might impact his chances of acquiring a visa.

Mr Shepherd said the consequences Grove would suffer were relatively minor when compared with the potential for far more serious outcomes as a result of such offending.

Grove was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 10 months, as he had already been disqualified since December 18, 2022.

No convictions were recorded.