Drink drivers, unlicensed drivers face Roma Magistrates Court

Police have busted multiple drink drivers and motorists who were caught without a licence on Maranoa road in the past few weeks. See who was in court here.

Liam Maxwell Sweeney, Josaia Warodo, Gary James Lesleighter, Cody Alexander Dew, Amanda Kelly Leatham, and Cheryl Ann Walters faced Roma Magistrates Court over drink driving or unlicensed driving.

Multiple drink drivers and unlicensed motorists appeared before the Roma Magistrates Court on June 25, as police do their part to protect the community from those infringing the road rules.

Conviction recorded

• Josaia Warodo pleaded guilty to drink driving while on a learner licence.

Police prosecutor Ellysha Geddes said the 19-year-old was pulled over on May 25, where he returned a positive roadside breath test, with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.038.

Ms Geddes said police found the man had a learner’s licence at the time, was driving unsupervised, did not have properly displayed L-plates, and his vehicle was unregistered.

Warodo was subsequently charged with a total of four offences including driving a motor vehicle while over the legal limit, learner driver driving unsupervised, learner driving without properly displayed plates, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Magistrate Melanie Ho fined the man $1350, disqualified him from driving for three months, and convictions were recorded.

• With a 10.40am flight to catch back to South Australia, Cody Alexander Dew stood before a Roma magistrate at 10.05am on June 25, to plead guilty to one charge of high-range drink driving.

The court was told the South Australian man was intercepted by police on the Warrego Highway at Yuleba, where he provided a positive roadside breath test.

Ms Geddes said the man’s breath alcohol concentration was 0.179, and he was subsequently charged with driving under the influence of liquor.

Ms Ho fined the man $1000, and his licence was disqualified for six months, and a conviction was recorded.

• Amanda Kelly Leatham pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to one charge of drink driving over the general alcohol limit.

Ms Geddes said police intercepted Leatham behind the wheel of a silver Toyota Kluger at 7.39pm on May 30, where Leatham’s breath alcohol concentration was 0.073.

The court was told Leatham was co-operative with police and very remorseful.

Ms Ho fined the woman $355, disqualified her for one month, and a conviction was recorded.

• Liam Maxwell Sweeney pleaded guilty to one charge of unlicensed driving in Roma Magistrates Court on June 25.

Sweeney was busted driving without a licence in a Holden Barina on Hawthorne St in Roma on May 9.

Ms Geddes said the man told police he had just bought the vehicle, and was driving it back to his house at the time of the offending.

Ms Ho fined the man $500, disqualified him from driving for three months, and his conviction was recorded.

Conviction not recorded

• Cheryl Ann Walters faced the Roma Magistrates Court on one charge of driving without a licence on Tuesday, June 25.

Ms Geddes told the court Walters was intercepted by police in the Big Rig parking lot, where it was found her licence was expired.

Ms Geddes said Walters told police she was waiting for her husband to return and had not been driving, though she was behind the wheel and the vehicle was running.

Walters’ solicitor, Trevor May, said his client was “extremely sorry” for the incident, and noted her stellar traffic history, with only three speeding fines in her lengthy driving history.

Ms Ho noted Walters’ “excellent traffic history,” and fined the woman $150.

Her licence was not disqualified, and no conviction was recorded.

• Gary James Lesleighter pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving in the Roma Magistrates Court on June 25.

The court was told Lesleighter was intercepted by police at 5.45pm on June 13, where police found his licence had expired.

Ms Geddes said the man, who works in IT, was able to renew his licence on his phone immediately.

The man was nonetheless given a notice to appear, and Ms Ho fined the man $150.

Ms Ho did not disqualify him, and no conviction was recorded.