Trent John Horton faces Rockhampton court for driving offences

A father facing homelessness who was caught driving while disqualified was to work for a man who drowned while on the run from Rockhampton police.

Trent John Horton had work lined up as a tree lopper for Martin Wheeler, a court has heard.

A father who was facing homelessness was caught driving with a court disqualified driver’s licence had work lined up as a tree lopper for a man who drowned while on the run from Rockhampton police.

Trent John Horton, 33, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 30 to disqualified driving, using a vehicle with a cancelled number plate, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant David Longhurst said Horton’s driver’s licence was disqualified when he was intercepted driving along Boundary Rd, Parkhurst, on July 12 at 12am.

Sergeant Longhurst said Horton’s vehicle was unregistered, uninsured and the number plates were cancelled.

Trent John Horton.

He described Horton’s traffic history as “deplorable for this type of offending”.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said his client had work lined up but the person he was going to work for, tree lopper Martin Wheeler, was now deceased.

Mr Wheeler fled from police on East St, Rockhampton, on October 19 and was last seen in the Fitzroy River.

His body was discovered on October 21 around 11pm.

Martin Wheeler.

“(He) had that lined up,” Mr McGowran said.

“It is unfortunate that all turned out the way it did.”

Mr McGowran said his client and partner had been living in a place for quite a while and the owner ended up selling and telling them they had two weeks to move out.

“They had a whole house to move,” he said.

“They relied on people with licences, utes and trailers who work.

“They don’t have a lot of resources and they have a young child.

“They have got into a situation where they didn’t get a lot of notice so he ended up driving.”

He said his client drove to a property near The Caves, north of Rockhampton, where they intended to live.

“It’s too far to walk,” he said.

Acting Magistrate Paul Byrne sentenced Horton to six months prison, wholly suspended for 18 months.

Horton was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for two years.

Convictions were recorded.