Drunk and unlicensed drivers in Rockhampton Magistrates Court

A grieving brother and a homeless woman were among the people facing Rockhampton Magistrate Court for a range of driving offences.

Glenda Joy Matheson

A homeless woman found slumped across the steering wheel of her car, with keys in the ignition, parked along Rockhampton’s riverfront was nearly four times the legal alcohol limit.

Glenda Joy Matheson, 48, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of contravening police direction and one of drink driving.

Glenda Joy Matheson, 48, has faced court for drink-driving.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said police directed Matheson to undertake a drug diversion program via phone on December 9.

She was located the next night, about 11.50pm, passed out, slumped over the steering wheel of her car, parked on Victoria Parade with keys in the ignition.

She said Matheson’s blood alcohol content (BAC) reading was .193.

“You were grossly intoxicated,” Magistrate Grace Kahlert said.

“You were very very lucky you weren’t involved in something more serious due to your level of intoxication.”

The court heard this was not her first drink-driving offence, with traffic convictions for .093 in 2005 and .137 in 2011.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client was homeless and forgot about the drug diversion appointment.

He said Matheson, who received a disability support pension, had recently found accommodation through Anglicare.

Ms Kahlert ordered Matheson to pay $800 in fines and disqualified her from driving for six months.

A criminal conviction was not recorded.

Natalie Dawn Perel

Natalie Dawn Perel, 34, had two glasses of champagne and two of wine before getting behind the wheel in November 2022.

She pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 10 to one count of drink-driving.

The court heard Perel was stopped on Glenmore Road on November 19 about 9.05pm.

She told police she drank the alcohol between 5pm and 8.45pm.

Perel had a blood-alcohol content reading of .054.

She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month, but granted a work licence for that period.

Andrea Lorin Neilson

Andrea Lorin Neilson was busted drink driving twice on one day and disqualified driving twice in a month, along with supplying drugs and assaulting a police officer.

She entered pleas of guilty to seven charges in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 13.

Neilson was stopped by police twice on May 30 - once on Varsity Crescent, Norman Gardens, and the other on Dean Street, Frenchville.

Both times she over the legal BAC limit.

She was disqualified from driving after the first intercept and was busted disqualified driving a second time on June 19.

Neilson had also been busted possessing marijuana and supplying a dangerous drug on March 11.

Her matters were set down for sentence on January 30.

Anthony John Edward Dixson

Anthony John Edward Dixson, 29, had a BAC of .135 when police found him with a parked white Holden sedan on Lion Creek Road with the bonnet up about 10pm on Christmas Day.

Dixson pleaded guilty to one count of drink-driving on January 10.

Anthony John Edward Dixson, 29, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

The court heard Dixson was unsteady on his feet and his words were slurred.

He said his sister died the day before and this why he was heavily intoxicated.

Dixson’s traffic record contained a prior drink driving conviction from 2018 and a dangerous operation of a motor vehicle conviction from 2020.

Ms Kahlert placed Dixson on six months probation and disqualified him from driving for four months.

Darren Michael O’Brien

Darren Michael O’Brien was stopped by police on November 8 on Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton.

He was driving while his licence was suspended by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry.

Darren Michael O’Brien drove driving while his licence was suspended.

His licence had been suspended since October 26.

The Mount Morgan baker was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one month.