Mackay Moranbah Whitsunday Sarina drink and drug-drivers named and shamed

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel of a car. Read the list of Mackay, Sarina, Moranbah and Whitsunday drink or drug-drivers who faced court this week.

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel of a car.

Read the list of Mackay, Moranbah and Whitsunday drink or drug-drivers who faced court this week.

Sasha Joy Howarth

A couple of post-golf beers gave an Andergrove woman more of a headache than a hangover when she face Sarina Magistrates Court on January 10.

Sasha Joy Howarth, 41, had two beers after a game of golf at Sarina Golf Club on October 10.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told the court police had completed a roadside breath test with Howarth at 1.08pm, where she returned a 0.07 blood alcohol concentrate.

Howarth said it was an error of judgment rather than an expression of character, to which Mr Dwyer agreed after assessing her lack of previous driving offences.

She pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was fined $400 and her licence was disqualified for six weeks.

Mr Dwyer gave Howarth with a restricted licence for six weeks so she can continue to travel to and from work on the most direct route.

A conviction was not recorded.

Trent David Wiezel

A teenage driver who was “more scared of his mother” than a punishment from court was caught drink-driving after a friend’s 18th birthday.

Trent David Wiezel was subjected to a random breath test as he was driving home at night on September 11, 2021.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told Sarina Magistrates Court the provisional driver had a blood alcohol reading of 0.04 after having two drinks of mixed spirits and soft drink.

The 18 year old was completing an apprenticeship and hoped to find work as a fitter and turner, the court heard.

Duty lawyer Robyn Cathcart said the Sarina teenager was extremely remorseful.

“He has said he has no excuse, he is more scared of his mother who is in court to support him,” she said.

“He does understand that he will lose his licence, and knows it’s not a good position for a young person to find themselves in.”

Mr Dwyer fined Wiezel $350 and disqualified him from driving for three months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Brandon John Clerc

Despite his best efforts to avoid police detection, Brandon John Clerc was caught drug-driving in an uninsured and unregistered vehicle.

The 27 year old took licence plates off his mother’s registered Nissan X-Trail to drive his car, which had been unregistered since July 28, 2021.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Hannah Beaumont said Clerc was the only passenger in a single vehicle crash on Eversleigh Road, Sarina, at 5.24pm on October 9.

Sarina Magistrates Court heard he suffered three broken ribs, a fractured sternum, lacerations to his knee and a concussion.

Clerc was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition, and was submitted to drug and alcohol tests.

The results of the test showed methylamphetamines and marijuana in Clerc’s system.

Clerc said he had not used meth in the previous few months before the crash, and smoked cannabis about once a month but could not recall using it before the crash.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer told Clerc the drugs did not stay in a person’s system for months.

“Stop fooling yourself,” he said.

“It doesn’t stay in your system for months.

“You know the last time you smoked meth.

“Are you eluding police or eluding yourself?”

Clerc said he was taking Eversleigh Rd to avoid police.

“I knew I shouldn’t be on the road,” he said.

“It’s a back road, I tried to dodge them.”

Clerc pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving an uninsured vehicle, possessing tainted property and driving an unregistered vehicle.

He was fined $1750 and had his licence disqualified for four months.

No convictions were recorded.

Walter Erik Vis

A Victorian who was holidaying in Queensland will now have to sell his car to avoid abandoning it after being caught more than three times the legal limit.

Walter Erik Vis drove a white sedan to Innisfail to visit his brother, and was set to make the return trip on the morning of December 12, 2021.

The 63 year old was subjected to a random breath test in Clairview, where he registered a 0.163 blood alcohol reading.

The Holland native said he had consumed two bottles of wine the night before.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told Sarina Magistrates Court he was stopped at 7.35am, and he was fully compliant with police, stating he had no idea he was over the limit.

“I’m guilty of it, but I had no idea I was,” he said.

Mr Dwyer said it was incredible to be more than three times the legal limit after having no driving indiscretions in four decades.

“Not often do I get people the morning after three times the limit,” he said.

“It’s unusual to get a 63-year-old man with no driving history, so you’re going to get some credit for that.”

Vis was fined $900 and had his licence disqualified for eight months.

No conviction was recorded.

Vis said he had resigned to the fact he would have to sell his car in Queensland, rather than abandoning it and returning to Victoria.

Adam John Wojeski

A paint shop worker has avoided a jail term after his fourth drug-driving offence in five years, but has been warned he is in “jail country” with his consistent offending.

Adam John Wojeski tested positive to a roadside drug test on the morning of October 22, 2021.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told the court the 44 year old’s results indicated methylamphetamines were present in his system at 11.31am.

Wojeski made no admissions to recent drug use at the time of the roadside test.

He said he had made a mistake.

“Well it’s another one, it’s the fourth since 2017,” Mr Dwyer said.

“You’re firmly in jail country if you come back again.”

Wojeski pleaded guilty to drug-driving on January 10 at the Sarina Magistrates Court.

He was fined $1200 and had his licence disqualified for 12 months.

A conviction was recorded.

Jonathan Michael Pickworth

A single father has been reminded of the potential dangers of drug-driving.

Jonathan Michael Pickworth pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to drug-driving and the possession of marijuana on January 11.

Prosecutor Harry Coburn said Pickworth was stopped on Nebo Rd on September 20, 2021, and tested positive to having marijuana in his system.

During the 12.10pm interception, police also found marijuana on Pickworth.

It was Pickworth’s third driving-related matter, as well as the second drug-driving case in the past two years.

Pickworth said he was likely to lose his job at Nauticare in Mackay Harbour if he lost his licence.

“I’m due to take my (four-year-old) daughter to and from school,” he said.

“Not having my licence means I will lose my job for not having that.”

Mr Dwyer disputed that claim, and said there were other means of transportation.

“It’s a wee pushbike ride to work,” he said.

“You went through the court for drink-driving two years ago, you think they’re going to give you a pat on the back and a medal or something?

“It would be a shame if you were driving on drugs and you ran into a car carrying a four-year-old girl that was killed.”

Pickworth was fined $1200 and had his licence disqualified for seven months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Philip Nigel Cole

A Beaconsfield man who turned to meth to cope with his son’s death will be without his licence after he was caught drug-driving.

Philip Nigel Cole was stopped on Nickolen Dr while he was driving an unregistered and uninsured car.

The 57 year old told police at 9pm on November 13, 2021, the car belonged to his deceased son, Adam, who had died in May 2021 from heart conditions and diabetes.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told Mackay Magistrates Court a drug test indicated methylamphetamines had been in Cole’s saliva.

The former mine operator said he had used meth on a very limited basis to help cope with his son’s passing.

Defence lawyer Geoff Govey told the court his client “broke down” after the death.

“As a result of that (Adam’s death), he had what can be loosely described as a break down,” he said.

“After the death of Adam … the mailbox was full of mail, he had just shut down.”

Magistrate Simon Young said the use of meth was not a suitable coping mechanism.

“I accept these circumstances arise out of grief, which can have a significant effect on you personally,” he said.

“The use of methylamphetamines as a coping mechanism is to be strongly discouraged.”

Cole was fined $1000 and had his licence disqualified for one month.

A conviction was recorded.

Yvette Martine Laure Rousselot

The 56-year-old self-described binge drinker was busted riding a bicycle in Airlie Beach with a 0.173 per cent blood alcohol reading on December 20, 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard police patrolling Shute Harbour Rd about 12.15am initially saw Rousselot walking her bike in the middle of the road while stumbling and directed her onto the footpath, warning her not to ride the bike after she stated to them she was highly intoxicated.

About 12.30am, the same officers saw her riding the bike on Hermitage Dr, swerving all over the road and crashing into guard rails.

Rousselot pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle other than a motor vehicle under the influence.

She told the court she had been drinking rum and cokes and beers at home and was “pretty sure” she was going to get cigarettes at the time of the offence.

Magistrate James Morton noted Rousselot’s licence was disqualified for three years in 2018 and she was set to get it back this year.

He sentenced Rousselot to pay an $800 fine and disqualified her licence for six months, with a conviction recorded.

James Mikaara Daniels

The 28-year-old carpenter told Proserpine Magistrates Court “really bad asthma” was the reason he refused multiple requests for a breath test when caught drink-driving on December 21, 2021.

The court heard Daniels had a 0.173 per cent blood alcohol concentrate when he had a roadside test on Waterson Way, Airlie Beach about 11.25pm, after refusing three times.

He then refused multiple requests to provide a further breath sample at the Cannonvale police station.

Daniels pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis, telling the court he had a couple of knock off drinks at work and a few more beers at home with his flatmate before heading out to get something to eat.

He said prior to driving he had had a nap, then smoked a cigarette and had tried to tell police at the time he would have preferred to take a blood test because of his asthma but “they wouldn’t allow that”.

He said he had recently relocated to Australia from New Zealand for “a better opportunity” and the offence was “the worst mistake [he had] made in [his] life”.

Magistrate James Morton fined him $900 and disqualified his licence for nine months, with a conviction recorded.

Brooke Kaitlin Goodall

A pregnant mother of two had a blood alcohol reading of more than three times the legal limit when she crashed into the rear of another vehicle at Moranbah.

Brooke Kaitlin Goodall had been drinking at a mate’s house and was dropping a friend off on her way home when she collided with a white ute on Mills Ave at the Griffin St corner.

Police were called to the crash, which occurred at 3.20am on September 4, 2021.

Moranbah Magistrates Court heard she told officers she had two drinks at the pub before going to her friend’s house where she drank “a few” more that had been mixed by someone else.

The 29 year old said she did not know the alcohol content of the drinks.

The court heard she had two kids and was now pregnant with her third and had been upfront with police.

She had been without her licence since the offence date.

Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert said the 0.162 per cent blood alcohol concentrate was a “very high” reading and should not have been driving in that condition.

Goodall pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, was convicted and fined $900 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Nicholas Thomas Mason pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit. Picture: Facebook

Nicholas Thomas Mason

The 28-year-old refrigeration mechanic was searching for his partner when police busted him driving on Loop Rd, Jubilee Pocket with a 0.136 BAC on November 26, 2021.

The father of two pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit while on a provisional licence.

He told Proserpine Magistrates Court he had drunk about 15 Great Northern stubbies at a Christmas party, which his partner also attended, before taking a taxi home.

He said he drove back to the party location later looking for his partner as he had concerns she was going to harm herself as she had bipolar disorder and alcohol “didn’t mix very well” with it.

He said he worked for his father and had received a “kick up the arse” and a “massive pay cut” as a result of the offence.

Magistrate James Morton noted Mason had appeared in court in 2021 on a drink-driving charge that resulted in a six-month licence disqualification.

The sentence this time was a $900 fine and an eight-month licence disqualification, with a conviction recorded.

Kenneth Michael Bailey

The unemployed Riordanvale man had a 0.127 BAC when he crashed his power boat into Pioneer Rocks off the Airlie Beach coast on January 1, 2022.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Bailey let his friend drive the boat out to the Great Barrier Reef to go fishing but took over about 6pm when navigation equipment failed.

The uninsured boat sank offshore about 9.30pm and Bailey had to seek help from some people on a catamaran.

Bailey pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle, tram, train or vessel while over the middle alcohol limit.

He said he had drunk two stubbies of “low strength” Great Northern beer that day and had had a lot of home-brewed beer to drink the previous night, New Year’s Eve, and early hours of the morning before going out on the boat.

Magistrate James Morton sentenced Bailey to pay a $500 fine but did not disqualify his driver’s licence. A conviction was recorded.

Shiral Monique Harbot pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit. Picture: Facebook

Shiral Monique Harbot

The stay at home mother of four had a 0.127 BAC after crashing her Commodore into a tree on Quay St, Bowen on November 17, 2021.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard her then partner told police Harbot was “maggoted” when she drove from their home towards Front Beach that night.

Police witnessed her take off at speed and “seem to deliberately aim at and hit” the tree before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Harbot pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit.

Magistrate James Morton fined her $900 and disqualified her licence for seven months, with a conviction recorded.

Misipene Alamoti

The farm worker blew 0.071 in an October 22, 2021 breath test on Gregory St, Bowen, after downing four whisky shots at the Grand View Hotel.

He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit, telling Bowen Magistrates Court he had gone to the pub that night as a birthday treat from his cousin.

He said he knew it was wrong to drive home and should have called his boss to pick him up as he knew he needed his licence to keep his job.

Magistrate James Morton fined him $500 and disqualified his licence for six months, with a conviction recorded.

Alamoti was granted a work licence.

Joel Brady Salmon

The Beaches Bar and Grill manager drank a can of Canadian Club and dry and a shot of Agwa liqueur during a 14-hour shift on November 22, 2021, before police busted him driving home via Airlie Beach main street with a 0.062 BAC.

Salmon pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit, telling Proserpine Magistrates Court he “didn’t think [he] would exceed the limit” as a number of hours had passed between having the drinks and getting behind the wheel about 12.45am.

Magistrate James Morton fined Salmon $600 and disqualified his licence for one month, with a conviction recorded.

Mikayla Jane Fitton

The 21-year-old unemployed mother of one was on a provisional licence and subject to the no alcohol limit when police busted her driving on Mount Nutt Rd, Bowen after drinking Bundaberg rum on November 21, 2021.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard Fitton blew 0.042 in a roadside breath test about 5.45pm and told police she was driving to get cigarettes for a friend.

Fitton pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle over the no alcohol limit, telling the court she had drunk three or four cans of rum during a fishing trip that day and “didn’t think [she] would be over”.

She said she lived alone in a housing commission house and had never had a job but regularly bought cartons of rum that lasted her “about a day, not long”.

Magistrate James Morton fined her $500 and disqualified her licence for five months, telling her “I’ve got no doubt I’ll see you here again before I retire”.

“I’d bet money on it,” he said.

A conviction was recorded.

Riley Jake Cameron

The 21-year-old was on a provisional licence and subject to a no alcohol limit when police caught him driving with a 0.023 on Waterson Way, Airlie Beach on November 28, 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Cameron told officer who stopped him about 1am he was aware of the no alcohol limit but “hadn’t had a drink for a few hours”.

Cameron pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the no alcohol limit.

He told the court he was unemployed and had been looking for labouring work but had given up recently as he was “not double vaxxed”.

Magistrate James Morton fined him $500 and disqualified his licence for three months, telling him “Unvaccinated, no licence, and no job – you’ve got a lot of work to do son.”

A conviction was recorded.

Melissa Jean Abbott

The 43-year-old single mother of four was sentenced to seven months’ jail for her third drug-driving offence in two years.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard Abbott had meth in her system when police stopped her on Inverdon Rd, Bowen, on the night of October 30, 2021, and she told them she had used the drug in the past couple of days.

Abbott pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

Defence lawyer Peta Vernon told the court her client had struggled with meth addiction since the suicide of the father of her three eldest children in 2014.

Ms Vernon said Abbott had recently moved from Bowen to Collinsville in an effort to “make a change” but had continued to use meth to “numb the pain” of the death she had “never really appropriately dealt with”.

Magistrate James Morton noted Abbott had spent time in custody before and had breached probation with “continual” drug-related offending.

He sentenced her to seven months’ jail with a parole release date of February 10, 2022, meaning she would serve at least one month in custody.

He disqualified Abbott’s licence for nine months, telling her: “It’s sad enough your former partner took his life – you’ve got to be supportive of your children.

“You’ve done that only through taking drugs which has done nothing for you, it hasn't fixed your situation.”

Phillip Brian Benson

The 48-year-old former truck driver faced court on two drug-driving charges resulting from police intercepts in Proserpine in August and November 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Benson had marijuana in his system at the August intercept on Chapman St and meth and marijuana in his system at the November intercept on Mill St.

On both occasions he denied having consumed illicit drugs, but in court this week pleaded guilty to two charges of driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

Defence lawyer Rosemary Varley told the court her client used marijuana for pain relief after a serious motorbike accident 11 years ago which left him with a broken femur and screws in his knees.

Magistrate James Morton fined Benson $1000 and disqualified his licence for seven months, with convictions recorded.

Leann Maree Cornford

The 53-year-old part time cleaner had meth and marijuana in her system when police drug tested her on Fuljames St, Proserpine just before 2pm on October 29, 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Cornford admitted to police she had smoked a couple of cones at 10.30pm the previous night to help her sleep.

The mother of two pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

She told the court she had consumed “amphetamines” orally in powdered form three days before the police intercept.

She said she used marijuana because she suffered from anxiety and had used other drugs in the lead up to the offence because she “had a bit of a breakdown”.

“I had a very weak moment, is the best way of putting it,” she said.

Magistrate James Morton said the powder she swallowed “could have been cockroach powder” and a woman of her age “should have a bit more brains about [her]”.

He sentenced her to pay a $500 fine and disqualified her licence for three months, with a conviction recorded.

Tiffany Jayne Whitechurch

A Moranbah woman had a cocktail of drugs in her system when police stopped her for a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result.

Moranbah Magistrates Court heard Tiffany Jayne Whitechurch had both meth and marijuana in her system when she was required to give a saliva sample.

The 26 year old Moranbah woman had been stopped about 1.42am on November 20, 2021 on Lions Crt.

She pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving while her licence was demerit point suspended and failing to stop.

The court heard she came to police attention because she drove through a stop sign. Checks revealed her licence has been suspended since September 2021.

Whitechurch was living with her parents in Mackay and fell into drug use while involved in a toxic relationship.

The court heard since the offending Whitechurch had proactively attended rehabilitation and was now involved in ongoing sessions to address the issue.

Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert convicted and fined Whitechurch $600 and she was disqualified from driving for nine months.

Duc Lap Le

The 32-year-old seasonal farm worker was driving home after playing the pokies at a Bowen pub when he tested positive for methamphetamine.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard he admitted he had smoked ice three days before the November 26 police intercept on Richmond Rd.

Le pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

Magistrate James Morton fined him $400 and disqualified his licence for one month, with a conviction recorded.

Quentin Mark Decle Thomson

The provisional licence holder had marijuana in his system when police stopped him on the Bruce Highway at Proserpine on October 27, 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard he admitted to police he had smoked a joint before the 12pm intercept.

Decle Thomson pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

Magistrate James Morton fined him $450 and disqualified his licence for three months.

A conviction was recorded.

Kurtis Wayne Wilson

The delivery operator had meth and MDMA in his system after partying with a friend he had not seen in 10 years when police busted him on Shute Harbour Rd at Jubilee Pocket on the morning of November 21, 2021.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Wilson told police at the RBT site he had smoked marijuana but later admitted he had consumed a cap he believed to be MDMA a few days earlier.

Wilson pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

He told the court his friend had offered him a blue circle shaped pill and told him it was MDMA and he did not remember much else about their night partying together.

Magistrate James Morton sentenced him to pay a $550 fine and disqualified his licence for four months, with a conviction recorded.

Wilson was granted a work licence.