Lawyer never seen 10-page traffic history as bad client’s in 38-year career

The defence lawyer of a repeat disqualified driver told the court she has never seen a traffic history “almost as bad as his” in her 38 year career.

The defence lawyer of a repeat disqualified driver told the court she had never seen a traffic history “almost as bad as his” in her 38 year career.

Joanne Madden, principal of Madden Solicitors since 1998 and working as a solicitor for 38 years, told Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 20 the 10-page traffic history belonging to her client, Steven Patrick Walsh, was “nothing short of appalling” and “it’s not often that I see a traffic history that … these days that I would say I’ve never seen something as almost as bad as his”.

Walsh, 47, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified by court and drink driving.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said police intercepted Walsh on Queen Street, Yeppoon, about 5.45pm on February 15.

Walsh had been disqualified by the Yeppoon Magistrates Court on October 8, 2020, for two years, where he received a four-month prison term, wholly suspended for 20 months.

Ms Bain said Walsh told police in February he had been living with his sister, they had argued and he left.

She said Walsh admitted he had consumed two Corona beers at the Railway Hotel prior to police intercept.

He had a blood-alcohol content reading of .036 and these driving offences were his fourth type two (see below for what a type two offence is).

Walsh also had a five-page criminal record.

The court heard Walsh had eight prior disqualified or unlicensed driving convictions, along with a dangerous operation of a motor vehicle conviction.

Ms Madden said Walsh, despite a long history of battling drug addiction and issues with alcohol, had managed to maintain employment.

She said his sister had asked him to leave after the argument.

“He did that,” Ms Madden said.

“He foolishly got in a car and drove away.”

Ms Madden said Walsh’s sister died by suicide in 2007, he had been diagnosed with depression and his father was recently diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

She said Walsh now assisted his mother in caring for his father at the Sunshine Coast.

Magistrate Cameron Press said Walsh had a very serious traffic record and had served time in prison in the past.

He sentenced Walsh to eight months prison, suspended after serving two months in custody and operational for two years.

Mr Press also activated the suspended sentence from October 2020 and ordered Walsh to serve the full four months cumulative of July’s sentence with parole release on September 20, 2021.

He also disqualified Walsh from driving for a further three years and four months.

Type 2 offences are:

• driving a vehicle that is uninsured and unregistered
• driving without a licence or when your licence has been suspended
• high range drink driving — with a blood-alcohol level above 0.15%
• exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h
• driving a modified vehicle that does not comply with vehicle safety standards
• driving while under a 24 hour suspension order.