Adam Ryan Jones, Paul William Baker, Ethan John Mooney busted drink driving

Meet the drivers of Central Queensland who were busted drunk or drugged driving in the past month, including one who was busted twice in 24 hours and another who jumped behind the wheel only hours after being disqualified in court.

Rockhampton’s Adam Jones, Gladstone’s Rachel Jones and Ethan Mooney were convicted of traffic offences in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in July.

Seven drivers faced Rockhampton Court over the past month for drink driving, drug driving and disqualified driving offences, including one who was busted twice in 24 hours.

WILLIAM ROBERT CLARKE

William Clarke, 26, was busted drug driving while unlicensed twice in one day.

Clarke pleaded guilty to the drug driving and unlicensed driving charges, along with three fail to appear charges in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 14.

Clarke was initially intercepted driving on Alma St at 12.44am on April 7, admitting to police he had injected methamphetamines hours earlier and he was driving around looking for a motel, police prosecutor Clancy Fox told the court.

He said checks revealed Clarke had not held a licence for years.

Mr Fox said Clarke was immediately placed on a 24-hour driving suspension.

Clarke was intercepted driving a second time on April 7 – on Farm St, Kawana at 6.43pm.

Mr Fox said Clarke told police at this intercept that he had smoked meth the previous day and that he was returning the vehicle to his uncle.

The defendant was spotted driving, again while disqualified, seven days later on Hunt Street, Kawana.

Defence lawyer Ashley Reynolds said her client had been released from prison in January and had struggled to find accommodation since.

“He has a problem with meth,” she said.

Ms Reynolds said he didn’t want to expose his drug problem to his nieces and nephews which added to the accommodation woes.

She said Clarke now had an aunt that could house him if he was released on bail for the remainder possession of drugs charge which he planned to contest.

Clarke was placed on a nine-month probation order as a head sentence, plus disqualified from driving for a total of three years and six months.

Traffic convictions were recorded, a brief of evidence was ordered for the drug possession charge and it was adjourned to October 18.

Clarke was granted bail on the drug charge.

RACHEL DENISE JONES

Rachel Jones (pictured) had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving on the Bruce Highway at Benaraby on April 18, 2023.

She held a provisional licence at the time and had a prior drug drive conviction from December 2022.

Rachel Denise Jones had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving on the Bruce Highway at Benaraby on April 18,

Jones, who pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 10, informed the court she received a pension with back and knee issues.

She said her husband’s mother had died and she was the only person available to drive her mother-in-law’s car back to Rockhampton.

Jones was fined $400, disqualified from driving for three months and a traffic conviction was recorded.

PAUL WILLIAM BAKER

Paul Baker had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading of .116 when he was busted driving to a Port Curtis address on June 16, 2023.

Baker, who pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving, worked part time at the Great Western Hotel.

He was fined $600, disqualified from driving for three months and a traffic conviction was recorded.

ADAM RYAN JONES

Adam Jones (pictured), who owns a mechanics business, was busted driving on the Bruce Highway at Lowmead on May 19 at 5.15pm with a BAC of .075.

The court heard Jones told police at the time that he had consumed three cans of Jim Beam at Gin Gin and was driving back to Rockhampton.

Rockhampton man Adam Ryan Jones, who owns a mechanics business, was busted driving on the Bruce Highway at Lowmead on May 19 at 5.15pm with a BAC of .075.

Jones had a seven-page traffic record which included a speeding offence from April 19 where he was 30-40km over the legal speed limit.

Jones told the court it was a “gross misjudgment” on his behalf and he had made arrangements that will aid his business to remain operational during the disqualification period.

He pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving and was fined $500 plus disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Ethan John Mooney, 19, had a BAC of .097 when he was intercepted drivng along Diplock Street, Frenchville, at 10.43pm on June 8.

ETHAN JOHN MOONEY

Ethan Mooney (pictured), 19, had a BAC of .097 when he was intercepted driving along Diplock Street, Frenchville, at 10.43pm on June 8.

The apprentice boiler maker pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.

He was fined $500, disqualified from driving for three months and a traffic conviction was recorded.

TAJ JONATHON BARNETT

Taj Barnett, 19, had a BAC of .036 and held a provisional drivers licence when he was intercepted driving a purple Ford Falcon on Skardon Street, Berserker, at 12.50am on July 9.

He had four passengers in the car and told police he had consumed six schooners of heavy beer in the hours leading up to 10.45pm.

Barnett was disqualified from driving for three months, fined $500 and a traffic conviction was recorded.