John William Hawke pleads guilty in Mackay court to possessing drugs and weapon

A coal miner told police he was drunk and waiting in his car to sober up. Officers found more than they bargained for when they searched him.

A coal miner who was found “passed out” in his car had more up his sleeve when police found a knuckle-duster with 10cm blades in his pocket.

It was about 10.30pm when police found John William Hawke, 34, in a car with the engine and headlights on parked to the side of Goldsmith St on February 19, 2022.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Hawke told police he was drunk and was waiting inside the car to sober up.

Police breathalysed Hawke who returned a roadside test indicating he was above the 0.05 blood alcohol concentration limit.

John William Hawke pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to failing to provide a specimen of breath, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a weapon. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Hawke was taken into custody with police searching the coal miner before taking him back to the station.

Prosecutor Harry Coburn said when police pulled out a small bag from Hawke’s front jean pocket, the coal miner told police “oh, that’s just my cocaine”.

The cocaine weighed 0.09 grams.

When police took him back to the station he refused to be tested again for alcohol. Picture: Lillian Watkins

In a second pocket, police found a set of black knuckle dusters which Hawke said was a set of “ornamental window breakers”.

But when police pressed a switch on the side of the weapon, a 10cm blade popped out.

When police took him back to the station he refused to be tested again for alcohol.

Hawke pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a weapon.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer offered Hawke the opportunity to enter into a four-month good behaviour bond for his drug-offending which he accepted.

Hawke was disqualified from driving for nine months and fined $1200.

No conviction was recorded.