Shay Tuwhare Toa Smith drove disqualified three times

A Marcoola tradie who “dropped the ball” after he was found to be driving disqualified three times in three months has lost his licence for six years.

A scaffolder who has been caught driving disqualified three times in three months has led his family and the community down, a court has heard.

Shay Tuwhare Toa Smith, 31, will serve jail time within the community after he pleaded guilty to three disqualified drives in Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Stu Lydford said Smith was found behind the wheel on September 2 in Birtinya, December 9 in Marcoola and December 20 in Maroochydore.

Shay Tuwhare Toa Smith.

Sergeant Lydford said the last two drives were committed while he was awaiting sentencing for his September disqualified driving.

The court heard Smith was also on suspended sentences from the Maroochydore Magistrate and District Courts.

Defence lawyer Andrew Wiseman said the New Zealand born scaffolder had been going through a phase of his life where he was letting his family and the community down.

“He has pulled his head in … but he has dropped the ball a number of times,” Mr Wiseman said.

Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of driving disqualified and was sentenced to a nine month intensive corrections order.

He then had three months of his suspended sentence activated and was given immediate parole while the other suspended term of imprisonment was committed back to the district court.

The 31-year-old was then disqualified from driving for six years.