Mackay hit and run driver Tristan James Watson’s licence disqualified absolutely

Prior speeding, dangerous driving and a cancelled licence. The shocking criminal and traffic history of the driver whose deadly actions claimed the life of traffic controller Brendan Moreland can now be revealed.

The shocking criminal and traffic history of a killer speedster – whose deadly actions claimed the life of Mackay traffic controller Brendan Moreland – can be revealed.

In August 2020 Tristan James Watson claimed to a court he wanted to turn his life around and “take a different track”.

He was staring down the barrel of a six-year jail term for a string of crimes including robbery and dangerous driving.

Fast forward to September 2021 and Watson, then 28, is released on parole.

But instead of holding true to his words, barely a month later he embarked on two dangerous driving stints in Townsville on October 13 and 15.

Mackay District Court heard the first included overtaking a police car “at high speed”, cutting across three lanes of traffic, mounting a centre island while narrowly avoiding crashing into oncoming traffic and travelling on the wrong side of the road.

The second involved speeding away from police at night with no lights, through an intersection and onto the wrong side of the road.

The following week Watson was behind the wheel of a stolen Toyota Rav4 when he struck and killed Mr Moreland, 35, who had been packing up road signs on the Ron Camm Bridge just after 4am on October 26, 2021 – and drove off.

Brendan Moreland was killed in a hit and run on Ron Camm bridge in North Mackay on October 26, 2021. Picture: Facebook

Mr Moreland’s workmates watched as the impact caused his body to become airborne and land 50 metres away.

Judge Anthony Rafter rejected claims Watson thought he had hit road signage.

He told police, “what do I say, if I knew it was a person I would have stopped and would have waited”.

‘APPALLING’ 12 PAGE CRIMINAL HISTORY

The court heard SPER had cancelled Watson’s licence at the time of this dangerous driving spree.

Watson, now 29, had an “appalling” 12-page criminal history and seven-page traffic history that included seven entries for unlicensed driving, three entries for speeding and drug-driving on top of the prior dangerous driving conviction.

Tristan James Watson is arrested hours after he dangerously drove a stolen Rav4, striking and killing roadworker Brendan Moreland on the Ron Camm Bridge in October 2021.

“He’s had the benefit of really every option open to the court and on my count there are at least 10 periods of imprisonment that have been imposed … to date,” Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said.

“He has not been deterred by any court order … despite all the claims that Mr Watson intended to turn his life around … when given the opportunity he’s in fact escalated … and now he’s killed someone.”

A report stated his response to court-ordered supervision had been “abysmal” with consistent non compliance.

The court heard he failed to report, committed more offences and was evicted from intervention programs over drug use and aggressive behaviour.

Judge Rafter disqualified Watson’s licence absolutely and jailed him for 5.5 years for his recent dangerous driving offending, which was added to the previous six-year term, bringing the total to 11.5 years.

He is eligible for parole in September 2024.