Sunshine Coast drink drivers plead guilty in Maroochydore and Nambour Magistrates Courts | List

From a Landsborough man busted driving drunk at Macca’s to a Nambour man who crashed while nearly six times the legal limit, these are some of the Sunshine Coast’s recent drink drivers.

Every week a long list of drink drivers face Sunshine Coast courts for their choice to drive after consuming substantial amounts of alcohol.

In the Maroochydore Magistrates Court and Nambour Magistrates Court this week seven residents with high readings were forced to face the consequences for their actions.

From a wasted Landsborough man who was busted driving drunk through the Macca’s drive-through, to a Nambour man who crashed while nearly six times the legal limit these are some of the Sunshine Coast’s drink drivers.

Nicolas James Middleton

Maroochydore McDonald’s was forced to call the cops on a Landsborough man after he travelled through their drive-through several times while blind drunk.

Nicolas James Middleton was with several mates on August 18 when he attended the fast food restaurant about 2.45am.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said the 33-year-old Landsborough man was heard making “funny noises” while travelling through the drive-through several times.

Nicolas James Middleton leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard he was arrested by police and later taken to the station where he failed to provide a sample of breath multiple times.

Middleton was also intercepted at 4.22am driving through Landsborough on September 3 and returned a reading of 0.124 per cent.

Middleton pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath and was disqualified from driving for 15 months.

He was fined $1600 with convictions recorded.

Mitchel Thomas Cooper

A 30-year-old Kureelpa man was caught driving almost six times the limit when he crashed into a car and subsequently into a tree.

After the crash, Mitchel Thomas Cooper told police he had drunk “a lot” of alcohol before deciding to get behind the wheel in Nambour where he lost control of his vehicle.

Cooper was taken to the Nambour Hospital and his BAC was recorded at 0.293, more than five times the limit.

Mitchel Cooper leaving Nambour Magistrates Court.

Cooper pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol in Nambour Magistrates Court on Monday.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said Cooper’s reading was “frighteningly high” and acknowledged how his autism spectrum disorder would be affecting his daily life.

“Once you get above 0.3, you are likely to fall into an alcohol-induced coma,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“It’s not surprising you had an accident … you could’ve killed people.”

Cooper was fined $1500 and his licence was disqualified for 15 months. A conviction was recorded.

Gavin Reece Cobb

A 56-year-old Coolum Beach pool builder said there has been some embarrassment in his street after he crashed into a parked car while nearly four times the limit.

Gavin Reece Cobb had crashed into the stationary vehicle car on his street on the evening of November 6 after a night at the local bowls club.

Gavin Reece Cobb leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

Cobb later returned a reading of 0.198 per cent.

He pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified from driving for 10 months and fined $1200.

Convictions were recorded.

Nathan James Liddell

A 33-year-old steelworker has been sentenced for refusing to undergo a breath test while yelling abuse at Maroochydore police.

Nathan James Liddell was handed a 12 month licence disqualification and fined $1200 for failing to provide a sample of breath on October 15.

The court heard Liddell was driving in Maroochydore at 10.05pm on October 15 when police attempted an intercept.

Senior Constable Burrell said the 33-year-old Flagstone man nearly clipped a car while pulling over for police.

Liddell returned a BAC reading of 0.172 per cent roadside however became belligerent at Maroochydore station and failed to provide a sample.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and had convictions recorded.

Jessie Margaret Batchelor

A 34-year-old Mooloolaba woman saw blue and red lights in her rear view after she dashed down to the Mooloolaba Coles after several drinks.

Jessie Margaret Batchelor returned a BAC reading of 0.126 per cent on October 23 after she was intercepted by police about 10.50pm.

She pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified from driving for three months and fined $850.

A conviction was recorded.

Robert John Ashen

A 74-year-old Alexandra Headland man’s doctor has attributed his drunken crash to a medical episode.

Robert John Ashen tendered several medical documents which swayed Magistrate Rod Madsen’s sentencing for his drink driving charge on Monday.

Police were called to Buderim Ave in Alexandra Headland on October 9 after Ashen crashed into a parked car after a wine and cheese night.

Senior constable Burrell said the 74-year-old returned a reading of 0.104 per cent.

He pleaded guilty to drink driving and was fined $650.

Ashen was then disqualified from driving for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

Taylah Jade Heighway

A teenage driver was lucky to escape her own drunken crash after she rocketed into two parked cars in Peregian Beach while more than three times the limit.

Taylah Jade Heighway, 19, was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for six months after her crash on David Lowe Way on August 30.

Tayla Jade Heighway. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the Maroochydore woman failed to negotiate a bend about 11.30pm and smashed into two parked cars.

Senior Constable Burrell said Heighway was taken to hospital after the incident where she returned a BAC reading of 0.177 per cent.

The teenage barista pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without due care and had no convictions recorded.