Mackay, Moranbah and Bowen drink-drivers in court in March
From a big win on the pokies to big catch-ups with mates and a few too many brews at the boatyard, here’s a round-up of drink-drivers in Mackay, Moranbah and Bowen courts.
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From a big win on the pokies to big catch-ups with mates and a few too many brews at the boatyard, here’s a round-up of drink-drivers who appeared in Mackay, Moranbah and Bowen courts.
Jack Michael Salter
A mate’s winning streak on the pokies kept Jack Michael Salter at the pub longer than he planned, and ultimately led to him blowing over the legal limit.
Salter was pulled over on Powell St, Bowen, about 10.30pm on February 8, and breath tested.
He later blew 0.074 blood alcohol concentration and on Tuesday, March 8, pleaded guilty to drink driving.
His solicitor told Bowen Magistrates Court Salter had a few drinks in the early afternoon when, in the early evening, went to the pub to give his mate a lift.
But he was winning on the pokies and they stayed longer than anticipated.
Salter had four Jack Daniels and cokes at the pub between 8.30pm – 10.30pm.
The 25-year-old truck driver would be out of work because of the licence disqualification, the court heard.
Magistrate James Morton fined the father of one $350 and disqualified his licence for one month.
A conviction was recorded.
Jeremiah Thomas Anu
A magistrate wasn’t buying a man’s claim four Great Northern beers put him more than three times the legal limit.
But he did understand a weekend catch-up with friends would do it.
Jeremiah Thomas Anu was sitting in the driver’s seat of an idling car on Herbert St, Bowen, at 1.24am on Sunday, March 6, 2022, and given a roadside breath test.
The 28 year old later blew 0.154 BAC, and told police he had no reason for driving but he was excited his mates were in town.
An operator at Byerwen Mine, Anu told Magistrate James Morton he took the car because he needed a lift to get more drinks.
But he would keep his job as he could catch the bus to the mine for work.
Anu pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, and was fined $800 and his licence disqualified for 10 months.
“Had you been driving the car, it would have been 12 to 15 months disqualification,” Mr Morton said.
Convictions were recorded.
Logan Anthony Stormonth
A Central Queensland diesel fitter was called out over his “dumb decision” after he drove while twice the legal alcohol limit.
Logan Anthony Stormonth had at least 10 beers and two rums in less than five hours when police stopped him on St Francis Dr, Moranbah, about 11.54pm on January 25, 2022.
Moranbah Magistrates Court heard he had been drinking at the Black Nugget Hotel since 7pm and was aware he would have been over the limit.
The court heard his blood alcohol concentration was 0.108 per cent.
Self represented, Stormonth pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-drinking.
Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert said it was “hardly surprising” he was over the limit given how much alcohol he had consumed the night before driving.
“No doubt you realise that was a dumb decision,” Ms Gilbert said.
“You were … a danger to yourself and other people.”
Stormonth was convicted and fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months.
Matthew Brian Dart
A Moranbah man was “not thinking straight” when he drunkenly drove a golf buggy down the middle of a busy road on a Macca’s run.
He thought he was doing the right thing using a golf buggy instead of a car. Now he must pay the hefty price.
Prosecutor Tasmin Murphy said police had been patrolling on Mills Ave on January 14, 2020 when about 12.30am they spotted a golf cart travelling in the middle of the road.
Matthew Brian Dart told officers he had been driving to McDonalds – the cart belonged to his girlfriend’s brother.
Moranbah Magistrates Court heard his blood alcohol reading was 0.163 per cent.
“It was a golf cart in the middle of the night, clearly a silly decision,” Mr Murphy said.
Self represented, Dart told the court he initially thought he was “doing the right thing” in using the golf buggy.
“Just not thinking straight obviously and thought it would be a better option not to get in a car,” Dart said.
“Probably should have walked.”
Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert said, “20/20 hindsight”.
Dart, a father of one, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor and driving an uninsured vehicle.
“You were obviously relying on any other road users to use their good judgment not to clean you up,” Ms Gilbert said.
“You were obviously well over the limit and … potentially a danger to other road users.”
Dart was convicted and fined $800 and disqualified from driving for six months.
Mark John Gralow
Drinks at the boatyard, and argument and confusion over whether a passenger was getting in or out of a car led to a marine mechanic’s appearance in court.
Police were called to a traffic incident on Bannister St, North Mackay, about 3.50pm on August 25, 2021.
Mackay Magistrates Court heard Mark John Gralow had been driving a vehicle which struck another man – his brother – in a minor incident that required treatment at hospital.
Prosecutor Sheena Gravino told the court Gralow admitted to being the driver of the car, and witnesses reported hearing Gralow and another man yelling moments before the incident.
Paramedics treated the second man for minor cuts and bruises, took him to hospital from where he later discharged himself.
Gralow was breath tested and returned a 0.129 per cent reading at the station.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without due care and attention.
Gralow’s solicitor Steven Hayles said his client was remorseful for what happened that day, but he had never intended to drive.
He said Gralow, 57, had been working at the boatyard at Cremorne earlier that day with his brother and brother-in-law.
“While they were at the boatyard they planned to have a few rum and colas,” Mr Hayles said.
He had initially organised a lift with his brother-in-law but that fell through, so later that day he decided to drive to Bannister St – a journey Mr Hayles said was completed without incident.
Mr Hayles said the pair got into an argument when Gralow’s brother got out of the car when he was struck, suffering minor injuries.
He said there was some confusion about whether his brother was getting in or out of the vehicle and that was when he was hit.
“Fortunately the injuries suffered were not serious but nevertheless, Mr Gralow felt very remorseful about the incident,” Mr Hayles said.
Mr Hayles said Gralow had not consumed alcohol since the incident.
He said Gralow, 57, was a self-employed marine mechanic with 39 years of experience, was a Volunteer Marine Rescue service member and volunteered his time on rescue boat five, and breast cancer organisation Dragons Abreast.
Magistrate Robert Turra fined Gralow $1000 for the drink-drive charge and disqualified his licence for nine months.
Gralow was fined $200 for driving without due care. Convictions were recorded.
He was fined $1000 and disqualified for nine months for the drink-drive charge, and $200 for driving without due care.
Convictions were recorded.
Dillon Jared Alderton
A West Mackay man who has never held a licence decided to drive home and keep drinking with friends when he was intercepted for a random breath test.
Dillon Jared Alderton, 24, had pulled his green sedan into a driveway on Bridge Rd when police pulled up about 9pm on February 19.
Alderton told police he had drunk a few beers earlier in the night, since about 4pm or 5pm.
Prosecutor Sheena Gravino told Mackay Magistrates Court Alderton told police he had decided to drive home, and that he had never held a licence.
Alderton later blew a 0.139 BAC, and checks confirmed his admission to police.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without a licence having never held one.
The court heard Alderton worked full-time at Reconcile Life since September but had been involved with the organisation for the past three years.
Magistrate Robert Turra fined Alderton $900 for drink-driving and disqualified him for seven months.
For unlicensed driving, Alderton was fined $600 and disqualified for three months.
Convictions were recorded.
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