Banana Shire Council worker Joel Anthony Rose set to lose job after drunken Christmas party blunder

The long-serving council worker was a total giveaway for police in the early hours of the morning. Find out how he was busted here.

When police patrolling the streets of Biloela in the early hours of the morning saw a car run up a concrete gutter before narrowly missing a power pole, they knew something was not right.

The events of that morning in December led to a 35-year-old man fronting court, but it could have been much worse.

Joel Anthony Rose, 35, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on January 19 to two counts of failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Police Prosecutor Brandy Butler said about 1.30am on December 5, 2021, police were conducting patrols when they saw Rose’s vehicle enter Gladstone Road.

Ms Butler said the vehicle caught the attention of police because of the speed at which it was travelling.

“Police continued to observe the vehicle drive along Gladstone Road and then turn left into Lawrence Street, Biloela,” she said.

“Police watched the vehicle run up over the concrete gutter, sideswipe a wheelie bin, and narrowly miss colliding with a power pole.

“Police immediately activated their lights and intercepted the driver for a random breath test.”

Ms Butler said Rose was not able to provide any personal identification and police noticed a “strong smell of liquor coming from him.”

She said Rose had very slurred speech, watery and glazed eyes, and when he exited the vehicle he was unsteady on his feet and could not walk unassisted.

Police directed Rose to provide a sample of breath roadside and he did not comply.

It was the same story after he was taken to the Biloela Police Station.

Ms Butler said at the police station, Rose was asked several questions about his consumption of alcohol.

“He stated that he drank beer at a work social Christmas party,” Ms Butler said.

“He said he only consumed two beers and then drank at home all day.”

The court heard that Rose had two previous drink-driving offences on his traffic history - from 14 and 15 years ago - and that he had no criminal history.

Solicitor Madison Kurtz said Rose worked as a parks and gardens team leader at Banana Shire Council.

“He has been employed by council for the past 18 years,” Ms Kurtz said.

“And he is expecting to lose his job for not having a licence.”

Ms Kurtz said Rose accepted the facts as read in court by the prosecution and he did not recall much of the night of his offending.

“He remembers that he attended his work Christmas party earlier in the afternoon,” Ms Kurtz said.

“He’s then gone to his friend’s place and continued drinking.

“He believes that he drank some bourbon from a bottle, and he instructs that he doesn’t usually drink spirits.

“He doesn’t recall any of the events alleged by police, but accepts the facts as alleged.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale described Rose’s actions on the morning of the offending as “absolutely foolish”.

She fined him $1400 and disqualified him from driving for six months.