Disqualified driver busted trying to earn cash for Christmas

‘If you were a cat you’ve probably just blown your ninth life’

A removalist was busted driving the work truck with a disqualified licence.

A removalist was busted driving the work truck while disqualified because he was trying to earn a few extra bucks before Christmas.

Donald Francis McBrown would have been able to get his licence back about mid this year, but now he must wait until 2023.

It was the 56-year-old father of three’s second disqualified driving offence in about two years and at the time he had been on a suspended jail term for drug-related matters, placing him in a precarious position.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard McBrown was picked up late last year and was upfront with police that his licence was disqualified.

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“He stated he was driving the work truck to earn money for Christmas,” prosecutor Harry Coburn said, adding McBrown knew full well he was not meant to drive given his history.

The court heard he had four prior convictions for drug-driving, one recent disqualified driving entry as well as one in 1982, which was too outdated.

Mr Coburn submitted a jail term was an option, but Acting Magistrate John Aberdeen said it was not his practice to hand out imprisonment for a second disqualified driving “unless there is something quite unusual about it”.

Defence solicitor Ashley Reynolds said her client usually worked in the depot, but a driver left before finishing a job.

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“He felt there was no one else to complete the job,” Ms Reynolds said.

“The offending is aggravated by the last disqualified driving in May 2019 for which he received a substantial fine and the fact it did occur while he was on a suspended sentence.

“Your honour needs to balance his history with the circumstances of this offence … which is a disqualified drive.”

Ms Reynolds argued McBrown was not at the point where he demonstrated contempt for the previous disqualification and that a fine was still in range.

“He made an error in judgment in his capacity as a removalist,” Ms Reynolds argued.

Mr Aberdeen described McBrown’s driving history as unacceptable but said he would not impose a jail term.

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“If you were a cat you’ve probably just blown your ninth life,” Mr Aberdeen said.

Instead McBrown was fined $1800 and the current suspended sentence was extended for another six months. He was also disqualified for the mandatory two years.

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