Wayne Reginald Butler pleads guilty to driving while disqualified

An Ipswich business owner whose lawyer said traffic offences were ‘an occupational hazard’ is facing a lengthy stint off the road yet again.

A truck driver who operates his own spa bath installation business has been hit with a jail term for driving when disqualified by a court order.

Bellbird Park’s Wayne Reginald Butler, 48, was already on a suspended jail term when he committed the offence, and was granted immediate parole release by an Ipswich magistrate who this week warned him the court’s orders needed to be taken seriously.

Butler pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court to driving unlicensed when disqualified by court order on the Redbank Plains Rd on May 22.

Police prosecutor Ricky Tsoi said Butler had similar offending on his history.

He said Butler was sentenced by the Richlands court in October 2019 to a three-month jail term, suspended for three years.

This was in operation at the time of his new charges.

Defence lawyer Dante Sushames said Butler was disqualified from driving for three years when sentenced in October 2019 by the Richlands court.

“I’ve appeared many times for Mr Butler. He is a truck driver for most of his working life and this is an occupational hazard in a sense and he runs up a few points,” Mr Sushames said.

“He tells me he was working (when caught).”

Bellbird Park’s Wayne Reginald Butler has been forced off the road for another two years.

Mr Sushames said both of his Richlands charges in 2019 occurred while working in the truck.

He said Butler had a business that included installing spa baths and he now had been forced to get others including his wife to drive him.

Mr Sushames sought for the magistrate to activate the existing suspended jail sentence and impose another jail term with a concurrent six-month order, and for Butler to be released on immediate parole.

“He will be grateful for that opportunity,” Mr Sushames said.

“It appears he is coming to his senses as it were. Life will continue to be difficult and hopefully he will get his licence back eventually.”

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said his extensive traffic record was appalling and spiralled since 2018.

“It is a serious thing to flout court orders,” Ms Scoines said.

Butler was sentenced to six months jail with immediate parole. His licence was disqualified for two years.

The suspended jail sentence from 2019 was activated and will be served concurrently.