All the drink drivers who pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 29
A travel journalist warned of jail and an ex-chef spending the night in his car were among all the drink drivers who pleaded guilty and were sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Sunshine Coast
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There were drink drivers a plenty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday for traffic court day.
From an Uber driver and travel journalist to an ex-chef and a family man, these people pleaded guilty to drink driving charges on July 29.
A conviction was recorded for all listed.
See everyone who was sentenced:
Hugo John Hercules Mcconochie
Hugo John Hercules Mcconochie appeared on the phone in court as his lawyer Mathew Cuskelly spoke on his behalf.
Mcconochie pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor and two counts of failing to provide a specimen of breath.
Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said police were called to the Backlane Bar in Mooloolaba on May 11 following reports of a disturbance.
Upon arrival, police spoke to the person who reported it who described the man who caused a disturbance and the vehicle he left in, which police spotted while in conversation.
The court heard Mcconochie was intercepted and officers noticed he had bloodshot eyes and was slurring his words.
He refused to comply with a breath test on two occasions, saying he “did not trust the machine” and was taken to the watch house, the court was told.
Mr Cuskelly said his client had since completed a traffic offenders program and abstained from alcohol since the incident.
He told the court Mcconochie had a young family and worked in the construction industry.
Mcconochie was fined $2000 in total and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Carley Jay Walton
Carley Jay Walton was represented by lawyer Josh Turner in court, and she pleaded guilty to one count of driving over the general alcohol limit.
Mr Quirk told the court she was intercepted by police in Bundaberg on April 18, and blew 0.064 per cent.
He noted Walton had been polite to police officers.
Mr Turner told the court the 32-year-old had been travelling from Coolum Beach to Agnes Waters, and had a breakfast mimosa then two glasses of wine at lunch that.
He said his client, a former youth correctional officer now pursuing a career in agriculture, was remorseful and showed cooperation with police.
Walton also completed a driving course after the incident.
She was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for one month.
Nathan Christopher Dunn
Lawyer Madalyn Olivero stood beside her client Nathan Christopher Dunn as he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.
Mr Quirk said police were called to Kunda Park on July 16 following reports of a car being driven around in the area.
When officers arrived, they found the car parked with Dunn inside, who initially denied driving.
After the officers spoke to some businesses in the area, Dunn was tested and blew 0.196, nearly four times the legal limit.
Ms Olivero said her client lost his job as an Uber driver after he lost his licence, and the 44-year-old is a father to two children.
She told the court Dunn had some drinks when he went out fishing that day, and sought rehabilitation following the incident.
He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for nine months.
Patricia May Maddock
Patricia May Maddock stood at the bar table alone in court as she pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.
Mr Quirk said police were patrolling the Mooloolaba area on June 9, when they saw a car swerving in and out of a turning lane around 12am.
Officers stopped the car and tested Maddock inside, who blew 0.098.
Maddock said she had realised she had been in the wrong turning lane, and drove straight instead of turning.
She told the court she had three drinks throughout the whole day, and did not realise she was over the limit.
Maddock was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for four months.
She also received a work licence for her job in home care support and holiday home cleaning.
Leigh Bruce Redpath
Leigh Bruce Redpath pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit when it was his turn at the bar table.
Mr Quirk said police officers were on patrol in Karawatha Dr on July 20 and came across a traffic crash about 3.30pm.
Speaking to the driver of the car involved, Redpath was tested and blew .108.
Redpath told the court he was medically retired and asked for leniency in his disqualification to be mindful of his medical appointments.
He was fined $600 and was disqualified for four months.
Erika Kathryn Brannen
Erika Kathryn Brannen pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit before the court was told of police conducting roadside breath tests in Warana on July 11.
Mr Quirk said Brannen was intercepted and she blew 0.12.
Mr Brannen told the court she had been living in her car at the time after a personal incident, and sought counselling and abstained from alcohol after she was intercepted.
She was fined $800 and disqualified for six months.
Tyler Jane Duffy
Tyler Jane Duffy pleaded guilty in court to driving over the middle alcohol limit on July 13 at Alexandra Headland.
Mr Quirk said police were patrolling and intercepted Duffy on Pacific Terrace about 2.41am.
The court heard she blew 0.119.
Duffy apologised to the court and said she would “never do it again”.
She was fined $650 and disqualified for four months.
Ross Shelton Free
Ross Shelton Free pleaded guilty to driving over the no alcohol limit while he was on a provisional licence.
Mr Quirk said on June 5 Free was intercepted by police on Alexandra Parade in Alexandra Headland.
The court heard he blew 0.024.
Free was fined $500 and disqualified for three months.
Zachoria Khan Bohocki
Zachoria Khan Bohocki pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit while not being the holder of a licence in court.
Mr Quirk said on July 10 on Beach Terrace, Mooloolaba Bohocki was found in a parked car by police.
He told officers he had been drinking for the past one and a half hours with the keys in the ignition, and was planning to stay overnight.
He blew 0.061 and was subject to a learner’s permit.
Bohocki apologised for his actions in court, and said he had been living in his car.
He said he had been trying to better himself after struggling with alcohol issues, and recently completed a Certificate III in Disability Support after his career as a chef for the past eight years.
He was fined $300 and was disqualified for three months.
Stefanie Kate Acworth
Stefanie Kate Acworth was the last to enter the courtroom in tow of lawyer Madelyn Olivero, before she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.
Mr Quirk told the court police were called to a shopping centre car park in Coolum Beach following a triple-0 call.
They found Acworth in her car with the lights on and keys in the ignition, and officers observed the smell of liquor and a wine bottle in the car.
Mr Quirk said Acworth was unsteady on her feet and blew 0.211, more than four times the legal limit.
Mr Olivero said her client works in publishing, and had been juggling work commitments and pressures.
Acworth has previously been referred to as a travel journalist by this publication.
She said Acworth had undertaken counselling in the past, but halted her sessions due to her other commitments.
The court heard Acworth had been running errands that day and, after an argument over the phone, made the decision to drink the wine she had bought.
Ms Olivero said since the incident she had returned to seeing a psychologist again and completed a rehabilitation program.
She told the court Acworth was remorseful, as shown by her cooperation with police.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice took note of her history, and warned her “next time it will be jail”.
She was fined $1800 and disqualified for 15 months.
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