Rockhampton drivers busted intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, driving while disqualified or licence suspended or unlicensed

Nine motorists who were dealt with in Rockhampton Magistrates Court recently for driving offences, including a sacked hotel manager who drowned his sorrows until he was busted driving almost four times the legal limit.

A number of motorists were dealt with in Rockhampton Magistrates Court recently for driving offences, including drink driving, driving unlicensed.

Colin Andrew Platt, 46, had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .1802 when he was intercepted driving on Bolsover Street in the early hours of August 6 after drinking between 5.30pm and 12.30am at the Lionleigh pub in Wandal.

Defence lawyer Lauren Townsend said the single father of three had lost his job that day – he was a manager of a hotel – and was drowning his sorrows.

She said the mother of his children had left the family 12 months ago.

He was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 10 months.

Blake Robert Benecke, 28, had a BAC reading of .057 when he was intercepted driving at Monto at 7.35pm on July 23 after having drunk four beers in four hours.

Blake Robert Benecke, 28.

He pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving.

Defence lawyer Emma Locke said Benecke was a trainee truck driver at the Dawson mines and was studying teaching externally via Curtin University.

She said on the day, Benecke had been at a football game, had one drink and then hours later had three drinks within an hour.

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

Colby Charvez Warcon, 19, had a BAC of .099 when he was intercepted driving unlicensed on Ingram Street, Park Avenue, at 12.46am on July 23.

Colby Charvez Warcon, 19.

Warcon also pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage and possessing a dangerous drug.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said Warcon caused $627 damage to street signs and concrete with graffiti.

He said CCTV captured Warcon in a group of males on the corner of Derby Street near DC Motors spray painting the footpath.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said Warcon lost a brother to suicide when he was a teenager and another – Duane Warcon – to a traffic crash in February 2022.

He said he was still struggling with the grieving process.

Mr Lammersdorf said his client only went to school until year five but had recently obtained a spray painting apprenticeship which was suspended at the moment.

Warcon was disqualified from driving for three months, ordered to pay $627 restitution, carry out 10 hours graffiti removal within six months and was placed on probation for six months.

Jasmin Danielle Rogers had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving on Panorama Drive, Inverness, on May 22, 2022.

Rogers told the court she worked two jobs while her partner worked at the mines and they had two children.

She said she was diagnosed with anxiety and had used marijuana to help her sleep, but had now spoken with a doctor about other medications to help her.

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

Ahmed Arafa was intercepted driving while disqualified on February 22 on William Street, Rockhampton, and five days later, charged for driving unlicensed in Park Avenue.

Ahmed Arafa.

Arafa pleaded guilty on August 26 to one count of disqualified driving, one of unlicensed driving, two of possessing drug utensils, one of possessing a restricted drug and one of possessing a knife in a public place.

He was busted with one used pipe and the knife on February 22 and another pipe and the restricted drug – a single tablet of diazepam – on February 27.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said the knife had a 40cm blade and was found between the driver’s seat and door.

He said Arafa pulled the pipe from a sock within his pants.

Mr Fox said Arafa admitted he was addicted to methamphetamines.

Defence lawyer Brandon Selic said his client had been in a rehabilitation centre for the past few months.

Arafa was disqualified from driving for two years, fined $1150 and placed on probation for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Tyler Jae Warren, 22, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on McKean Street, Berserker, on May 20 just after midday.

Bayley James Van Dyk.

The court heard Warren had a prior conviction for drug driving in 2021.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Harris said Warren had worked at the Park Avenue Hotel Motel for the past 16 months, working about 40 hours per week as a gaming attendant.

She said he claimed he used marijuana on occasion but did not feel under the influence on this occasion.

Ms Harris said Warren suffered from anxiety and possibly depression.

Warren was placed on a 12-month probation order and disqualified from driving for six months.

Thomas James Fouracre’s licence was demerit point suspended when he was intercepted driving on the Capricorn Highway at Kalapa on June 27 about 1pm.

Thomas James Fouracre.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said Fouracre told police he wasn’t aware of the suspension which ran from May 4 to August 3.

Fouracre told the court he had lost his job as an apprentice boilermaker due to not having a driver’s licence.

He said he was intercepted as he was en route to the hospital because he had pneumonia.

Fouracre was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $450.

Bayley James Van Dyk was intercepted driving unlicensed on Glenmore Road on August.

Bayley James Van Dyk was intercepted driving unlicensed on Glenmore Road on August.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said Van Dyk told police he thought selecting the Good Behaviour option, when Queensland’s Department of Transport was about to suspend his licence due to the amount of demerit points, would mean he could still drive.

However, the court heard Van Dyk had been busted doing more than 40km/hr over the legal limit which resulted in his licence being suspended for six months, overriding the good behaviour period.

Van Dyk informed the court he was able to keep his job as a mechanic.

He was disqualified from driving by Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale for six months and fined $550.

Matthew Scott Ruff, 33, was intercepted driving unlicensed on Yaamba Road, Rockhampton, on August 25, while en route moving from Brisbane to Mackay.

The court heard his driver’s licence had expired 34 days prior.

He was fined $200.