Marlon Joe Bradden jailed in Biloela Magistrates Court

A Central Queensland man caught driving almost seven times the legal alcohol limit with a loaded gun, machete and tomahawk in his car, was drinking two cartons of alcohol a day, a court has heard.

A repeat disqualified driver has faced Biloela Magistrates Court and been sent to jail. Generic image.

A repeat disqualified driver has been sent back to jail after police caught him behind the wheel almost seven times over the limit with a loaded gun, machete and tomahawk in his car.

Marlon Joe Bradden, 36, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on February 22 to drink driving, disqualified driving, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, weapon possession and carrying a loaded firearm in public.

The court heard that all of Bradden’s offending happened on the night of November 13 last year.

It was told that Moura police were conducting patrols when they saw Bradden driving a vehicle with no registration plates on Bowen Street, Banana.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said police checks confirmed Bradden’s driver’s licence was disqualified by a court order.

After a random breath test, Bradden returned a blood alcohol reading of .330.

Ms Leach said Bradden, while being questioned by police, admitted to having a firearm in the vehicle, on the “driver’s side front floor”.

Police found a .22 calibre bolt-action rifle.

“A further search of the vehicle located a machete and tomahawk on the rear seat of the vehicle, as well as a glass containing a number of loose .22 calibre rounds in the centre console,” Ms Leach said.

The prosecutor said police checks confirmed the rifle was not registered and Bradden did not have a firearms licence.

The court heard Bradden had a five-page traffic history and his criminal history was also five pages long and included drug and property offending.

Ms Leach added that Bradden had “an appalling history of disqualified driving” and the court heard he had previously served jail time for his offending.

“He has no previous history for weapons offences,” Ms Leach said.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said prior to this offending, Bradden had just left his job following a drug relapse.

Ms Wieland said Bradden started using drugs “heavily” and he was also drinking “a lot”.

“He instructs that at the time of the offences, he was drinking two cartons a day,” Ms Wieland said.

The solicitor said Bradden had been “clean” since December having engaged with rehabilitation, was extremely co-operative with police, and he was remorseful for his actions.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale fined Bradden $1000 and disqualified him from driving for two years and three months.

She also sentenced him to 15 months’ jail with a parole release date set for July 21, 2023.

Convictions were recorded.