Drink-drivers, unlicensed drivers front Rockhampton Magistrates Court
The motorists who faced court in Rockhampton last week included a man who told police he “was not in the same realm” as others and didn’t need a driver’s licence. Details here.
Police & Courts
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Here are some of the motorists who were convicted in Rockhampton Magistrates Court last week of driving offences:
A man who faced court for unlicensed driving told police he “was not in the same realm as everybody else and therefore didn’t need a licence allowing him to drive”.
Thomas Jayden Lobegeiger, 24, pleaded guilty on July 19 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count each of driving while demerit-point suspended, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle.
When he did enter his plea, he said: “I agree that I did it but I’m being made to use the word guilty.”
Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Sarah Rowe said police were called to a disturbance in a park on Lakes Creek Road, Koongal, about 4.30pm on June 28.
She said when police arrived, they noticed a Black Holden parked at the location and two males walking in the park near the vehicle.
Acting Sergeant Rowe said Lobegeiger admitted to driving the Holden, his car, to the park from his home.
She said checks revealed Lobegeiger’s licence had been suspended due to demerit points and when asked about it, he told police he “was not in the same realm as everybody else and therefore didn’t need a licence allowing him to drive”.
Magistrate Jason Schubert said Lobegeiger’s claim was “absolute nonsense”.
Acting Sergeant Rowe said the defendant stated he was unaware his vehicle’s registration had expired on October 18, 2021.
Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Lobegeiger had worked as a plumber and roofer for the past eight years.
She said the demerit point suspension was due to expire on December 21, 2022.
The court heard Lobegeiger was on a good behaviour bond at the time of the offence, which expired on July 26.
Mr Schubert noted Lobegeiger had accumulated 10 demerit points this year and five last year, according to his three-page traffic record.
He warned Lobegeiger to “change his belief system in relation to being real” - “otherwise you’ll find that you’ll end up in jail”.
Lobegeiger said he disagreed.
Mr Schubert fined Lobegeiger $1500 and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Efim Burukhin had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading of .058 when he was intercepted driving a Mercedes Benz on the Bruce Highway at 8.05pm on June 5.
He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 19 to one count of drink-driving.
Acting Sergeant Rowe said Burukhin told police he had drank a moderate amount of alcohol before driving.
Defence lawyer Caitlin Dee said her client was driving from Brisbane to Rockhampton at the time.
She said Burukhin was married and had one child.
Burukhin was fined $250 and disqualified from driving for one month.
Bradley Allan Schuh lost control of his blue Holden Commodore when doing a U-turn on Fitzroy Street, Allenstown, about 11.30am on June 29.
His licence was suspended due to demerit points.
Schuh pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 20 to one count of unlicensed driving.
Police prosecutor Courtney Brown said police were called to a crash on Fitzroy Street and shortly afterwards found the Commodore parked in a driveway with damage to the front end and Schuh working on the vehicle.
Ms Brown said Schuh told police he had wanted to test drive the vehicle and had driven south on Fitzroy Street, Allenstown, for 50 metres before doing a U-turn, driving north for about 200m, before doing another U-turn.
“The defendant has pumped the accelerator causing the rear wheel to lose traction and start to spin,” Ms Brown said.
“The defendant’s actions have caused the vehicle’s wheel to spin, then fishtail about 30m, lost control, hit a tree and drove his car back home where it was located by police.”
When asked by Magistrate Jason Schubert how he would describe his behaviour, Schuh replied “stupid”.
Mr Schubert fined Schuh $450 and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Keean Edward Holt, 34, had a BAC of .176 when he was intercepted driving a white Mazda BT-50 on Wandal Road, Wandal, at 7.55pm on July 5.
He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 20 to one count of drink-driving.
Ms Brown said when police intercepted Holt, he told them he had consumed “copious amounts of alcohol” between 4pm and 7.20pm at home.
Defence lawyer Ashley Reynolds said her client’s mother died about a year ago and his son was born about the same time.
She said Holt had struggled with his mental health since.
Ms Reynolds said Holt’s partner of three years, who was away at the time visiting family in Gympie, was “very disappointed in him”.
She said Holt would not lose his job as a sheet metal fabricator by not being able to drive.
The court heard Holt had prior convictions for drink-driving – a BAC of .188 in 2016, .117 in 2018, and .141 in 2010.
“You don’t learn from your past failures, you don’t learn having been fined in the past or having been disqualified,” Mr Schubert said.
He sentenced Holt to three months’ prison, wholly suspended and operational for 15 months.
Holt was also disqualified from driving for 15 months.
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