Drunk rampage through graveyard haunts mechanic

A big night on the booze will haunt a Coast man for months after he drove drunk through a graveyard.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE DISCUSS USE WITH YOUR EDITOR - Daniel Anthony Drew, 34, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence on liquor at court on Monday.

A BIG night on the booze will haunt a Sunshine Coast man for months after he drove drunk through a graveyard and damaged tombstones in an erratic police chase.

Daniel Anthony Drew, 34, said there was "nowhere to pull over" when police initiated their lights and sirens along Nambour Connection Rd, so he sped up, made a sharp turn and drove straight into Old Nambour Cemetery.

Nambour Magistrates Court heard how the mechanic was driving "all over the lanes" about 12.30am on August 31 when police tried to intercept him.

He drove through the cemetery grounds and knocked over tombstones before trying to run from his car when police caught up with him.

Drew, who had no criminal history, pleaded guilty at court on Monday to driving under the influence of liquor after recording a blood-alcohol content of 0.164.

Duty lawyer Graham Lee said the married man was drowning his sorrows with a neighbour after learning of his wife's unsuccessful IVF treatment.

Police prosecutor Alison Johnstone said Drew had already been fined more than $1700 for damaging tombstones and other related offences.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said Drew was lucky to be alive.

"I could contemplate all day the irony of what you did," he said.

Drew was fined $1250 and disqualified from driving for seven months. No conviction was recorded.

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