Liam Wheeler pleads guilty to evading police at night in Moffat Beach

A young Sunshine Coast automotive shop worker has been hit with a gargantuan fine after he fled from police with drugs and alcohol in his system, reaching speeds of up to 100km/h.

Liam Malcolm Wheeler appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on bail on Tuesday. Picture: David Clark

A young automotive worker has been hit with a whopping fine after he evaded police with cocaine and alcohol in his system.

Liam Malcolm Wheeler’s solicitor persuaded acting magistrate Janelle Boegheim on Tuesday not to jail the 22-year-old for a mandatory 50 days offenders would normally cop for fleeing police in a vehicle.

The Currimundi man instead was fined almost $10,000 following a concerning incident about 2am on March 9 at Moffat Beach.

Police say they spotted a vehicle parked at a venue in Currimundi and after conducting checks, discovered the owner of the vehicle had a disqualified licence.

Court documents state the car drove away and police pulled up to the vehicle. An officer shined a torch in Wheeler’s face who was driving and told him to pull over.

Police state Wheeler accelerated through a red light with officers following close behind with their sirens. Documents state the Currimundi man reached speeds of about 100km/h when police stopped their pursuit.

Officers, however, attended his home address an hour later where they spoke to him.

The court was told Wheeler returned a positive reading for cocaine and also blew 0.03 per cent while on a disqualified licence.

Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said the community was “sick” of seeing young people evading police and expected the courts to mete out appropriate punishments to deter others.

Liam Malcolm Wheeler. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Matthew Cooper said Wheeler spent 22 days on remand for another matter before he was granted Supreme Court bail in April.

Mr Cooper said since his conditional release, the Currimundi man had gained work in the detailing department of an automotive store and was poised to be promoted to a full time accessory filter.

The solicitor said Wheeler had been adhering to his bail, which included no alcohol and a curfew. He stated jail time would derail the 22-year-old’s rehabilitation. He also completed a traffic offenders program.

“My client had a taste of actual custody,” Mr Cooper said.

Wheeler’s lawyer also submitted it was a low alcohol reading, was not under the influence of the drugs found in his system and was not alleged to be driving dangerously in an area which had no traffic around due to the early hours.

Wheeler pleaded guilty to six offences including driving without due care and attention, evasion at night in company and drug driving.

Acting Janelle Boegheim opted not to send the 22-year-old to jail and instead issued him fines totalling $9565.

He was also disqualified from driving for two and a half years.