Drug drivers, drink drivers in Rockhampton court in January
Drunk drivers who crashed into railway crossings and parked cars were just some of the motorists disqualified and fined in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in January 2025.
Police & Courts
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One drunk driver crashed into parked cars, another into garden beds at one of the city’s busiest intersections while a third crashed into a railway crossing.
These were just some of the motorists who were disqualified and fined in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in January 2025.
SHANE DANIEL MILES
Miles, 39, had a blood-alcohol content reading (BAC) of .208 when he crashed the vehicle he was driving near the Red Hill Homemaker Centre intersection of Yaamba and Richardson Roads on December 1 at 6pm.
Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said bystanders attempted pushed the grey Holden Commodore off to the kerb after it mounted a garden bed.
He said Miles told police he had been drinking since 6am that day and had drunk two cartons of beer along with rum.
Defence lawyer Mark Morrow said his client, who works for Olsson Industrial, had just broken up with his partner and was en route to a mate’s place for “consultation”.
Miles pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving, was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for five months.
No conviction was recorded.
NUBONO ANGIREREI
Angirerei, 38, had a BAC of .192 when he was intercepted driving Black Subaru travelling south on East Street, Rockhampton, at 9.30am on December 7, 2024.
Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor told the court on January 22 that police observed seven occupants in the vehicle.
He said Angirerei told police he had consumed four jugs of beer between friends between 8pm and 11pm the previous evening.
Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Angirerei works full-time as a meat processor, supporting his wife and family who live in the Kiribati Islands in the central Pacific Ocean.
She said he was in Australia on a four-year work visa and had been here 16-months so far.
Angirerei pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving, was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for 10 months.
A conviction was not recorded.
KIRSTIE FLORENCE ROBERSTON
Mother-of-two Kirstie Florence Robertson, 29, was busted driving with methamphetamines in her system at Allenstown on November 13, 2024.
Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said police intercepted Robertson driving a black Audi and she told police she used meth earlier that day.
Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client had previously worked in a motel but now received a parenting payment while she raised her two children, both aged under 10.
He said since this intercept, she had sold her car to her mother.
Robertson pleaded guilty to one count each of drink driving and disqualified driving.
She was ordered to pay $1000 in fines and disqualified from driving for a further two years and three months.
No convictions were recorded.
ADAM LEE WILLIAMS
Williams had a BAC reading of .122 when he crashed a vehicle he was driving into three parked cars on East Street in Rockhampton on December 15, 2024, at 1.40am, and was observed by witnesses to ‘stumble’ out onto the road, the court heard on January 13.
Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said Williams told police he had drunk half a litre of Gentlemen Jacks whiskey prior to driving.
She said his licence was immediately suspended.
Williams pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.
He was disqualified from driving for four months and ordered to pay a $500 fine.
A conviction was not recorded.
BENJAMIN JOHN HOWARD
Howard had a BAC of .088 when he crashed the vehicle he was driving a small white truck crashed into the railway crossing on Lakes Creek Road on November 15 at 11.40pm, the court heard on January 13.
Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said police observed damage to the crossing and the vehicle as a result of the crash and the truck required towing from the scene.
She said Howard, who was originally from Mackay but now living in Wandal and driving trucks for a living, told police he had drunk 10 Jack Daniels full nips that day since 10am.
Ms Smith said his licence was suspended for 24 hours.
Howard pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving, was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for one month.
A conviction was not recorded.
ADAM RYAN BICKLE
Bickle had meth in his system when he was intercepted driving in Berserker on November 13.
Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said he told police he consumed the illicit substance the day prior to the intercept.
Bickle told the court he had now sold his car and uses an e-scooter to get around.
He pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving, was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.
A conviction was not recorded.
ROBERT BRADLEY KEMNITZ
Kemnitz had meth and marijuana in his system when he was intercepted by police for speeding on Greenlake Road, Sandringham, north of Rockhampton and east of Etna Creek on November 7.
Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said his license had been disqualified until December 7 after being disqualified on August 8 for four months.
She said he was intercepted at 11.30am on November 7.
Kemnitz had also been busted disqualified driving on Rockhampton Road at Yeppoon on October 28.
Ms Smith said police had received calls at 8.20pm to reports of a vehicle being driven recklessly on James Street and police observed a vehicle parked on Park Street.
She said they intercepted the vehicle and they noticed a cartoon of Woodstock in the passenger footwell and two unopened cans in the centre console.
Ms Smith said Kemnitz told police he thought the disqualification period had ended.
Kemnitz told the court he needed his drivers licence for work as a concrete contractor.
Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale told him to move closer to work or somewhere he could get a bus to work as he now would be unlicensed for at least the next four years.
“You bought this on yourself,” she said.
Kemnitz pleaded guilty on January 16 to two counts of disqualified driving and one of drug driving.
He was ordered to pay $1800 in fines and disqualified for 4.5 years.
No conviction was recorded.
CHRISTINE SHANNON MARTIN
Mother-of-five and grandmother-of-two Christine Shannon Martin, 54, had a BAC of .109 when the Kia Carnival she was driving was directed into a static random breath testing site at 7.20am on New Year’s Day at Park Avenue.
She was also unlicensed and had a previous entry on her traffic history for unlicensed driving, the court heard on January 20.
She pleaded guilty to one count each of drink driving and unlicensed driving, was ordered to pay $600 in fines and disqualified from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
JOHNATHON BRENT HEREMIA
Heremia had a BAC of .123 while on a probationary licence when he was intercepted driving on Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton, at 1.15am on December 19.
Police prosecutor Courtney Brown told the court on January 20 that Heremia, who had slurred speech, told police he had been at a work function since 7pm.
Heremia told the court he worked as a carpenter and his work was remote.
He pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving, was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
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