Rugby player Leevai Sutton pleads guilty driving disqualified, failing to appear in court

A promising rugby player who recently signed with a Sunshine Coast hinterland club has reflected on his days spent in the watch-house after lying to police about having no licence.

Leevai Jeremiah Sutton leaving the Maroochydore watch-house on Tuesday. Picture: Patrick Woods

An A-grade signing of a hinterland rugby league club has been released from police custody after racking up several traffic and other charges.

Leevai Jeremiah Sutton exited from the Maroochydore watch-house on Tuesday afternoon after he spent several nights on remand for charges of failing to appear in court and driving on a disqualified licence.

The 24-year-old, who recently signed for the A-grade side of the Beerwah Bulldogs, was part of the Melbourne Storm and South Logan league systems during his sporting career and represented the Toowoomba Clydesdales and Samoa Queensland in the Queensland Pacific Island Cultural Carnival.

On Tuesday, the swashbuckling back from Logan looked on by video from his watch-house cell following his guilty pleas in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to several charges including two counts of driving disqualified and two of failing to appear in court.

Sutton outside the police station. Picture: Patrick Woods

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said officers pulled over Sutton about 2.25pm on October 28 last year at Currimundi with checks revealing his licence was disqualified.

The 24-year-old told police he believed the disqualification was no longer current and he was licensed to drive.

The court heard he was pulled over again at 9.42pm on November 6 last year at Durack, where he was found to be driving disqualified on his way to work.

Sutton then contravened a police requirement to give his identifying particulars at a police station.

Mr Quirk said Sutton was taken into custody by police on November 16 after he failed to appear in court at Richlands Magistrates Court last year and Beenleigh Magistrates Court this year.

The prosecutor said traffic charges were concerning as he had previous offences of driving unlicensed and drink-driving on his history.

Legal Aid lawyer Breanna Bowtell said Sutton was from the Logan area however was recently signed to the Beerwah footy club.

Sutton pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Patrick Woods

Ms Bowtell said the construction site security guard was under stress due to the footy contract and the prospect of being a new father with another child on the way.

She told the court the Logan dad spent a few “sobering” nights in the watch-house and was remorseful.

“You have history for just thumbing your nose at the road rules,” Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist told Sutton.

“Let’s start with the disqualified driving … knowing full well you were disqualified and lying to the police about it.”

Sutton was fined $3000 and disqualified from driving for two years with convictions recorded.

A Beerwah Bulldogs spokesperson said they wanted to respect Sutton’s privacy and did not wish to “discuss his personal life with [this publication] or any other member of the public”.