Brandon John Collins no longer has to complete community service for his wild drug drive on Coast roads

A 21-year-old who crashed twice during a dangerous drive exceeding 150 km an hour was re-sentenced to accommodate his new-found love for lawns.

Brandon John Collins was resentenced in a Coast court for four charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving while a relevant drug was present. Picture: Social media.

A 21-year-old who crashed twice during a dangerous drive exceeding 150km/h has successfully had his community service slashed to enable his new-found love of lawn mowing.

Brandon John Collins was sentenced to two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service for four charges in November, 2020 including dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving while a relevant drug was present.

Police prosecutor Alison Johnstone told Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday Collins had total disregard for the safety of others on the road when he drove dangerously on April 10, 2020.

“It was the most serious of offending, it covered a significant stretch of the road involving extremely high speeds of up to 150 km per hour in a 100km zone,” she said.

Sergeant Johnstone said Collins’ driving resulted in two separate crashes.

“He was completely disoriented upon police locating him in the vehicle, fortunately it came to rest without injury to any person,” she said.

She said the Tewantin resident was found to have seven different drugs in his system including MDMA and benzodiazepine.

Sergeant Johnstone said Collins had criminal and traffic history.

After securing full time work Collins raised concerns about completing 200 hours community service and Queensland Corrections filed an application to have the original sentence revoked.

Sergeant Johnstone said during Collins’ original sentencing police didn’t think fines were in range for the offending and asked for him to be sentenced to 12 months’ prison to serve a third.

Sergeant Johnstone asked Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist to place Collins on a suspended sentence and a probation order so the significance of the offence was not lost on him.

A Queensland Corrective Services representative said Collins had reported on all occasions under his original probation order and engaged with a mental health social worker, psychologist and his GP.

Solicitor Christopher Anderson said re-sentencing the now 21-year-old to a further two years of probation would keep him supervised and act as a reminder of the serious offending.

Mr Anderson said Collins was clean from illicit drugs and had found paid employment mowing lawns, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

He said the 21-year-old was co-operative with probation and promptly told Queensland Corrections about his difficulties completing the community service.

“He was on the front foot,” he said.

Mr Stjernqvist revoked the original probation and community service orders and sentenced him to a three-month prison sentenced suspended for nine months.

He was also placed on an 18-month probation order.

Mr Stjernqvist reminded the 21-year-old how lucky he was to not have caused life-threatening injuries to himself or other road users.

Collins will be eligible to get his licence back in November.

Convictions were recorded.