Michael James Buhagiar involved in police pursuit after being refused entry to The Strand Hotel, Yeppoon

A man who was so drunk he was refused entry to a Central Queensland pub, hopped in his car and clocked speeds of about 95kmh in a residential area as police followed him. Here’s what happened next.

A man who was so drunk he was refused entry to a Capricorn Coast hotel, hopped in his car and narrowly missed hitting a traffic light at speed.

As a police car followed Michael James Buhagiar that night at 95kmh in a residential street, they could not make up any ground on him, and it was only when lights and sirens were activated that he slowed down and pulled over.

Details of the shocking offending were heard in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on August 11 where the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to contravening a move-on direction, speeding and drink-driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said that on July 13 at 11pm, Buhagiar was outside The Strand Hotel, Yeppoon, when he was issued with a move-on direction by a police officer for a period of seven hours.

Sgt Ongheen said Buhagiar was given that direction because he was being disorderly to patrons who were at the venue, and those entering and leaving it.

The prosecutor said that before this, Buhagiar had been refused entry to The Strand Hotel because he was deemed too intoxicated.

Sgt Ongheen said that about 11.30pm, Buhagiar returned to his Ford Territory which was parked in the car park opposite The Strand Hotel.

“He therefore contravened his move-on direction of not returning to within 100m of (The Strand),” Sgt Ongheen said.

The prosecutor said that at 11.40pm, police saw Buhagiar driving northbound on Farnborough Road at speed.

“Police saw the vehicle take the corner at the intersection of Farnborough Road and Meikleville Street so quickly, that they heard the screeching of tyres, saw a skid mark left behind, and saw the vehicle mount the centre island and nearly hit the traffic light located on the centre island,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“Police conducted a U-turn and attempted to catch up to (Buhagiar’s) vehicle with the hope of intercepting it due to the manner of driving.

“Police saw that their police vehicle speedometer was reading approximately 95kmh while attempting to catch the vehicle, and they were not gaining ground.

“They activated lights and sirens and the vehicle slowed down and pulled over.”

Sgt Ongheen said Buhagiar returned a blood alcohol reading of .167.

“A very high reading which explains that manner of driving,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The court heard on Buhagiar’s traffic history was a drug-driving offence in 2020 and a drink-driving offence in 2018 (BAC .063).

The court was also told Buhagiar had other drink-driving offences outside the past five years’ period.

Solicitor Ashley Reynolds said Buhagiar was a single man with no children, and he’d only arrived in Yeppoon two days before the night of the incident, from Brisbane.

“He came here for work - he is a coach builder and he restores and repairs buses and vehicles for L&F Transfers Yeppoon,” Ms Reynolds said.

Ms Reynolds said Buhagiar had accepted he had a problem with alcohol and he had not had a drink since the night of his offending.

Ms Reynolds said Buhagiar had also sold his vehicle to prevent further offending, and he was remorseful for what he had done.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale noted Buhagiar was earning good money having come to Yeppoon for work.

“And it’s a good lifestyle here - but you’ll bugger things up if you don’t get this drinking issue under control,” Ms Beckinsale said.

“...you’ve brought this on yourself so needlessly - it could have been a whole lot worse, when you listen to how you were driving.”

Ms Beckinsale fined Buhagiar $2700 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months, also noting that Buhagiar was lucky he was not charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.