Joel William James Roberts was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for 10 months in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to driving drunk

A 21-year-old Bli Bli man, who was knowingly driving drunk, was frantically seeing if police were on his heels when he slammed into a pedestrian walkway.

Joel William James Roberts leaving Noosa Magistrates Court after being sentenced for driving under the influence. Picture: Laura Pettigrew

A 21-year-old Bli Bli man said he had done nothing wrong and blamed police for distracting him when he crashed into a pedestrian walkway while under the influence of alcohol.

Joel William James Roberts was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for 10 months in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence on September 18.

Police prosecutor Pedau Grabbe said police saw Roberts drive over a raised traffic island before he crashed into the pedestrian boardwalk near Noosa Drive.

She said Roberts’ car’s airbags deployed when he hit the walkway, which was badly damaged as a result of the crash.

Roberts, who told police he knew he was over the limit, blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.108 after the accident.

“ … (Roberts) blamed police for the crash and said he had done nothing wrong,” Constable Grabbe said.

“He stated that he had seen … the police vehicle turn around when he then drove off Noosa Drive and was looking in the rear vision mirror to see if police were following (and) this is when he crashed into the pedestrian walkway.”

Police provided no evidence to an offence of driving without due care and attention and the charge was dropped.

Solicitor Bruce Johnstone said Roberts understood the severity of his offending that was out of his usual character.

“Certainly he is here today facing a single charge, but it is one that involves a considerable warning that his whole future could have otherwise been jeopardised,” he said.

The court heard the business graduate had seen a doctor regarding his alcohol consumption before the accident but had since returned to deal with “troubles”, causing him to over consume alcohol.

Mr Johnstone aired the possibility of having no conviction recorded.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said he didn’t think Roberts would be negatively impacted by a traffic conviction.

Mr McLaughlin said the 21-year-old was fortunate he didn’t hurt anyone.

“Luckily it was only the handrail you collided with and not some people,” he said.

He said completing the Safe Driving Awareness Program presented as a genuine expression of remorse by Roberts.

A conviction was recorded.