Drug driving or drink driving convictions in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 3

A number of motorists were convicted in Rockhampton Magistrates Court recently for drug driving or drink driving. Full details here.

A number of motorists were convicted in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 3 for drug driving or drink driving.

Darren Wayne Slattery was intercepted driving on Upper Dawson Road on October 19 about 5.30am with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading of .070 and his licence had expired on March 12, 2018.

He told police he had not “got around” to renewing his licence and he had consumed about 12 beers the night before.

Slattery told the court his wife had gone away and he needed to get to work that morning. Slattery was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Shannon Lee Richards.

Shannon Lee Richards, 39, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on Kerrigan Street on August 21 at 10.50pm.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said the father of seven had turned to drugs after a friend died by suicide.

Richards was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Scott Aaron Atkinson, 33, had marijuana and methamphetamines in his system when he was intercepted driving on Potts Street, Norman Gardens on August 12.

He only had a provisional licence at the time.

Defence lawyer Jess King said Atkinson had worked at Rio Tinto for five years before being diagnosed with schizophrenia for which he received regular treatment.

She said his diagnosis also resulted in him no longer being able to work as he could not pass the medical tests.

Ms King said Atkinson’s drug use became heavy, with him using daily, but since the beginning of this year, he had managed to cut back with the help of Alcohol Tobacco Other Drugs Services.

Atkinson was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for four months.

Jackson William Barker, 26, was subject to an interlock device condition on his driver’s licence when he was intercepted driving with meth and MDMA in his system on September 5 on East Street at 12.18am.

Defence lawyer Jess King said Barker had received a call from his partner, who had been at the night clubs, about being assaulted and she asked for help.

She said the car he was driving was the only one available at the time.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said he could have rung “a mate” or a taxi.

Barker was also found in possession of cocaine and a spoon when he was a passenger in a car on August 17.

Police had intercepted the vehicle on Water Street, Berserker, and where in the process of carrying out a search when Barker, with his hands in his pockets, shook his shorts and a clip seal bag with one gram of cocaine fell onto the ground.

The former miner from the Gold Coast moved to Central Queensland two years ago.

He stopped working in the mines after being jailed in 2016

Ms King said Barker started using marijuana when he was 16 and worked his way up to cocaine and amphetamines.

She said Barker had been stressed at the time about the outcome of other charges he was sentenced over days after this offence.

Ms King said Barker started a mental health plan for anxiety and bipolar disorders in August.

Barker was placed on a 12-month probation order, fined $300 and convictions were recorded for the drug possession.

He was ordered to pay fines totalling $1200 and disqualified from driving for nine months for driving offences.

Kizzy Cassandra Bradden, 39, had a BAC of .154 when she was intercepted driving on Thozet Road on August 21 about 2.50am.

Kizzy Cassandra Bradden, 39, had a BAC of .154 when she was intercepted driving on Thozet Road on August 21 about 2.50am.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said the mother of three had been on medical leave from working at a Blackwater mine due to a shattered elbow.

He said she had also been on a liquid diet for a week before the offence.

Mr Gimbert said Bradden had drunk three pints over a three-hour period.

Bradden was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for eight months.

Stephen Paul Hooper, 61, had meth and marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on Nobbs Street, Berserker, on August 18 at 12.10pm.

He told police he had used drugs six days prior.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Hooper, who receives a disability pension, was using marijuana for pain relief and was trying to get a prescription for medical marijuana.

Hooper had a six-page traffic record and three-page criminal record and was on probation at the time.

Hooper was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months

Alexander Harley Bare, 28, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on Canning Street, Rockhampton, on August 4, at 7.18pm.

He was on his provisional drivers licence and police could smell burned marijuana coming from his vehicle.

Bare, who works for a building company, was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Khafirya Knowles, 18, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on Canning Street, Rockhampton, at 7.45pm on August 11.

The single mother of a two year old now lives in Moura and was using marijuana to deal with anxiety.

She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Amanda Janette Lorna Mason, 24, had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving on Glenmore Road at 9.56pm on September 3.

The court heard Mason’s mother had since taken possession of the car to reduce the temptation to drive.

Mason was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.