Ilhan Harman in Rockhampton court for drink and unlicensed driving

In the “heat of the moment”, a Central Queensland kebab shop business operator got in his car with his dog after drinking. But it landed him in court.

Ilhan Harman outsde Rockhampton Courthouse.

In the “heat of the moment” to leave a situation at home, a Central Queensland kebab shop business operator got in his car with his dog after drinking beers and was caught behind the wheel by police.

Ilhan Harman, 46, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 15 to drink driving and driving without a licence.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said police saw Harman driving along East St, Rockhampton, on September 17 about 8pm and spoke to him after he got out of his car outside his home, where he told them he had been drinking beers and would probably blow over the limit.

Mr O’Connor said Harman had a blood-alcohol-content reading of .114.

He said Harman had a New Zealand driver’s licence but not a Queensland driver’s licence.

Defence lawyer James Harney said his client had been at his home drinking alcohol with his partner and claimed he had asked her to leave, but she refused.

“He and his dog hopped in the car and drove to the end of the street,” he said.

“He instructs in the heat of the moment he thought he was making the right decision to remove himself from the situation but now realises he should have simply just walked to the end of the street as opposed to hoping in the car in the driving.”

Mr Harney said his client was no longer in that relationship.

He said his client, who operated multiple kebab businesses in Rockhampton and one in Gladstone, had relocated to Rockhampton from New Zealand in 2018 and still held his New Zealand driver’s licence which had been issued to him that same year.

Harman was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Traffic convictions were recorded.