Sunshine Coast drivers who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor
From athletes to tradies and support workers, these are some of the grossly intoxicated drivers who got behind the wheel on the Sunshine Coast.
Police & Courts
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Despite the worst year for road deaths in Queensland for 15 years, drink drivers continue to be found grossly intoxicated while behind the wheel on the Sunshine Coast.
The Queensland government revealed on New Year’s Day that 302 people lost their lives on the state’s roads, making it the worst year for fatalities since 2009.
The Queensland Police Service says drink-driving contributes to 30 per cent of fatal crashes in Australia, with more than a quarter of drivers and rivers killed in Australia have a blood-alcohol content exceeding the legal limit.
In a statement, police stated officers conduct 3m breath tests every year, detecting more than 160,000 drink-driving offences, and claim casualty crash risk doubles when drivers exceed the legal blood alcohol limit.
These are some of the high-range drink-drivers who have been sentenced in Sunshine Coast courts over the past 12 months.
CONVICTED
Duom Dawam
A pro basketball player and youth worker refused a breath test when he was pulled over after a night of drinking, a court has heard.
Semi-professional basketball player Duom Dawam pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 7 to one count of driving while under the influence of liquor.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke told the court Dawam was seen driving out of a unit complex at Buderim on November 24 last year about 8.30pm.
Upon seeing police, Dawam pulled over, parked and walked away from his car, leading officers to suspect he was intoxicated.
Sergeant Pyke said Dawam initially refused a breath test, so he was arrested and tested at a police station where he blew .183.
Dawam, who represented himself in court, said he did youth work in collaboration with NDIS through a program, and is also a basketball player.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist fined him $700 and disqualified his licence for eight months.
A conviction was recorded.
Andrew Peter Knapton
A Sunshine Coast man was caught driving four times the legal limit after he downed vodka and got into a car crash on a road near the Bruce Hwy.
Palmview man Andrew Peter Knapton, 45, appeared at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 8 and pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.
Police prosecutor James Allen told the court officers were called to a crash on a road in Palmview underneath the Bruce Hwy about 1pm on June 21.
Officers found the car in the middle of the road with a flat tyre.
Knapton, the driver of the vehicle, told police he had downed vodka straight from the bottle but he was unsure how much he had consumed, Mr Allen said.
He blew 0.205, more than four times the legal limit, when officers tested him.
He told the magistrate what happened was “absolutely atrocious” but was sober for the past five and a half years prior to the incident.
Magistrate Rod Madsen fined him $1300 and disqualified him from driving for three months.
Daniel John Auglys
A Sunshine Coast man blew more than five times the legal blood alcohol limit after he was seen driving erratically by police, a court has heard.
Daniel John Auglys, 47, however told police he only had one alcoholic beverage when he was pulled over about 12.15pm on April 21 at Coolum Beach.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard the Mount Coolum man was travelling in front of police along South Coolum Rd when he was seen driving erratically before he was intercepted by police.
He blew a positive reading roadside despite Auglys saying he only had one drink in the morning before driving.
Auglys was taken back to Coolum Beach Police Station where he recorded an astronomical blood alcohol reading of 0.277 per cent, more than five times the legal limit.
Auglys, who represented himself, said he believed he only touched the centre line when he was driving, but ultimately pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist fined Auglys $1200 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
Angela Skye Feige
A real estate agency owner has been banned from driving for several months after she was busted drink-driving on a busy highway with her child in the car.
Angela Skye Feige, 40, was intercepted by police along the Bruce Hwy at Palmview late on March 13 when officers discovered she was driving with alcohol in her system.
In Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday, police prosecutor Michael Quirk said the Waterford West woman showed signs of drunkenness and returned a positive reading roadside.
She was taken back to the police station for further tests which revealed she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.164 per cent.
Defence lawyer Laura Turner told the court the 40-year-old mother ran her own real estate agency, where she was the only employee.
The court heard Feige had been going through personal issues at the time and didn’t usually drink.
She was also incredibly remorseful and embarrassed for her offence.
Feige pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was fined $750.
She was also disqualified from driving for seven months with a conviction recorded.
Jack Robert Coleman
A Gympie civil construction worker has told police he “f---ed up” after they spotted him performing a fishtail when he was almost four times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Jack Robert Coleman returned a reading of 0.191 following his boozy intercept about 9.05pm at Maroochydore on November 22 last year.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said officers were patrolling Maroochydore Rd before they came to a stop at the intersection with the Sunshine Mwy.
Sergeant Newman said they saw a white ute travel through a green light, with the driver revving his engine and accelerating heavily.
The police prosecutor told Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday Coleman, who was the driver, lost traction as he turned his vehicle and skidded through the corner.
Coleman failed to break and instead continued to accelerate out of the turn which created a fishtail before he drove off.
Sergeant Newman said there was another vehicle travelling in the same direction with the ute narrowly missing a collision with them.
Police quickly pulled Coleman over in the shopping village car park at the intersection of Jones Rd and Pittards Rd.
He immediately made admissions, saying “ah I’m f---ed” and “I f---ed up … that was stupid” when he referenced his driving.
He was breath tested and later returned the astronomical reading.
Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden said the labourer completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program and had “made things difficult” for himself as he was working on a project in Brisbane.
Coleman pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and driving without due care and was fined $1500. He was also disqualified from driving for nine months.
John Owen Whitlock
A Fraser Coast caravan park manager has been stung for high-range drink driving after being involved in a crash on the Sunshine Coast which led to $60,000 in damages to his vehicle.
John Owen Whitlock was found drinking alcohol at the scene of a two-vehicle crash southbound on the Bruce Hwy at Tanawha on November 2 last year.
The court was told Sippy Downs Police rushed to the crash about 8.05pm and found the two vehicles with no serious injuries reported.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told Whitlock was travelling from Hervey Bay to Brisbane and admitted to getting on the beers the night before and at lunch that day, which included several XXXX Golds and bourbon and cokes.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said Whitlock was breath-tested where he returned a blood-alcohol content reading of 0.159 per cent.
Whitlock pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor on Thursday, where he represented himself.
He told magistrate Rod Madsen he was sorry and did not drink regularly.
The caravan park manager said his car was written off from the crash which cost him $60,000.
Whitlock was disqualified from driving for 14 months and fined $1050.
Lydia Shae McNabb
A Maroochydore woman has admitted to being almost four times the limit when she collided with an elderly couple driving at Cotton Tree.
Police were called to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Cotton Tree Pde and Cotton Tree Caravan Park about 8.30pm on October 11 last year to reports Lydia Shae McNabb crashed head on with an elderly couple’s car.
Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said the elderly driver told police the Maroochydore woman drove around the corner and smashed into the front of their car. The elderly man returned a zero blood alcohol reading.
Mr Quirk said the 41-year-old was breath-tested and later returned a reading of 0.190 per cent.
She accepted her conduct in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday after she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.
Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden handed up several documents to acting magistrate Raelene Ellis, which included character references and a certificate of completion of a traffic offenders course.
Mr Pruden said the 41-year-old mother was remorseful and told the court she had to give up her second job due to her charge.
McNabb was fined $850 and disqualified from driving for eight months.
Rodney John Chambers
An Alexandra Headland man has been told he should have called an ambulance and not put other motorists in danger after he was caught more than four times the limit after driving through a red light.
Police prosecutor Michael Quirk told the court Rodney John Chambers was driving along Claymore Rd at Sippy Downs on October 6 last year when he was seen by police driving through a red light at an intersection, with no attempt to slow or stop.
The 62-year-old year old was pulled over and breath-tested, where he returned a whopping reading of 0.225 per cent, which was almost five times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Chambers represented himself in court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and failing to stop at a red light.
He told the court he was watching the NRL Grand Final between the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers that night with mates when he felt a pain in his chest from his medication.
Chambers said he was driven to a mate’s place but decided to drive to his home afterwards to get other medication because he didn’t want to “cark it” in front of his friends.
He was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for 20 months.
Mathew John Hawkins
A Coolum Beach man said a combination of alcohol and medication played a role in him blowing four times the legal blood alcohol limit following a crash.
Mathew John Hawkins was breath tested after the car accident along Birtwill St at Coolum Beach about 8pm October 16 last year where he returned a reading of 0.2 per cent.
The 48-year-old, who represented himself, told Ms Ellis he attended alcoholics anonymous and was on new medication which did not mix well with alcohol. He also said he was extremely sorry.
The magistrate accepted Hawkins was on work cover, had no related history, the character reference from a local pastor and his contribution to the community through his youth work.
Hawkins pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor and was fined $1000. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Anthony Neil Nasmyth
A Palmwoods man could be the contender for one of the Sunshine Coast’s worst drink drivers, having clocked up a fifth high-range boozy offence in the past five years.
The Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Anthony Neil Nasmyth’s latest drunken jaunt was discovered after he was found slumped over the steering wheel about 4pm at the IGA Yandina on August 17.
Acting Magistrate Raelene Ellis said a member of the public was alerted to the 51-year-old’s intoxication after seeing him drunk in his vehicle, which was parked halfway into a garden.
The court was told the witness believed Nasmyth had suffered a medical episode, however he stunk of alcohol.
Ms Ellis said Nasmyth’s car was seen at a Yandina address nearby police the same day and spoke to police.
He later returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.235 per cent, and spent 59 days in custody until his court apperance where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and driving while disqualified.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said this was Nasmyth’s fifth high-range drink-driving offence in as many years, previously returning other readings of 0.274, 0.275, 0.153 and one monster reading of 0.339.
Sergeant Newman said this would be his seventh UIL offence all up, but has two previous driving with a blood-alcohol content, with the court hearing it went as far back as 2001. The police prosecutor labelled Nasmyth’s traffic record as “deplorable”.
The magistrate jailed Nasmyth for 15 months and set his parole eligibility date to January 16 next year.
She said she would only disqualify the 51-year-old from driving for three years to allow him to address his issues.
Thomas Andrew Dickinson
A labourer has escaped a devastating crash in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after he rolled his small hatchback into a paddock while nearly four times the limit.
Thomas Andrew Dickinson, 21, escaped with only minor injuries but totalled his car following the serious rollover along Roys Rd at Beerwah on July 11 last year.
Police prosecutor Stu Lydford said emergency crews were called to the single-vehicle crash about 9.30pm where Dickinson’s Ford Fiesta was found “completely destroyed” in a paddock.
Caloundra Magistrates Court heard the Glass House Mountains man was driving west to Beerwah when the vehicle veered into a ditch and flipped over a number of times before it came into a rest in a field.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene where Dickinson had already left the vehicle, with numerous empty liquor cans found around the vehicle.
Sergeant Lydford said the 21-year-old was reasonably uninjured and told officers he couldn’t remember the crash.
The court heard Dickinson later returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.197 per cent.
Investigations revealed there were no obvious signs of Dickinson used any emergency braking, with checks revealing he had no licence at the time.
Dickinson represented himself in court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, driving without due care and driving without a licence.
He told the court he had recently moved in with family on the Sunshine Coast from Victoria to try and “get away from the trouble”.
Dickinson was fined $900 and was disqualified from driving for nine months.
Joel Coventry Weston
A Nambour disability support worker crashed his car into multiple council street signs while driving more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Joel Coventry Weston was going through a break up when he drove drunk along Petrie Rd at Rosemount and crashed into a number of council road signs about 8pm on May 14 last year.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris told Maroochydore Magistrates Court the 47-year-old continued his driving until he came to a stop after crashing off the road.
Sergeant Grigoris said multiple motorists called police due to Weston’s driving, with officers swiftly arriving on the scene.
The court heard the Nambour father refused a roadside breath test however blew 0.179 at Maroochydore police station.
Weston was charged with driving under the influence of liquor and pleaded guilty.
Defence lawyer Fleur Cardell said Weston was going through relationship troubles when he got behind the wheel, with the entire incident being a “wake-up call” for him.
Ms Cardell said the 47-year-old worked previously as a youth support worker before foraying into disability support work, however the loss of his licence had a ripple effect on his job and his finances due not being able to drive.
She said Weston was extremely remorseful and embarrassed for his offence, had completed a traffic offenders program and referred himself to a hospital diversion program.
Ms Cardell said Weston had no criminal history and abstained from alcohol since the crash.
Magistrate Rod Madsen fined the 47-year-old $1000 and disqualified him from driving for eight months. A traffic conviction was recorded.
NO CONVICTION
Joaquin Eduardo Chavarria Hernandez
A Sunshine Coast student has been foiled drink-driving for almost 45 minutes while more than four times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard that Joaquin Eduardo Chavarria Hernandez had a tiff with his partner on New Year’s Day and decided to drive himself home from Noosa to Maroochydore.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said officers intercepted the 33-year-old in Maroochydore about 6.55am for a random breath test.
Sergeant Grigoris said the reading was later revealed as 0.204 per cent, more than four times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Chavarria Hernandez, who represented himself in court, said he regretted his actions and promised to not do it again.
He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor and was fined $900 and disqualified from driving for nine months.
No conviction was recorded.
Justin Thomas Blaha
A court has heard of a metal fabricator’s alcohol addiction that led him to crash his car into a tree at almost five times the legal limit.
Mons man Justin Thomas Blaha, 36, pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 5 to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.
Police prosecutor Shane Raison told the court emergency services attended a crash at Mons Rd, Forest Glen on June 23 involving a ute.
The court heard on this occasion Blaha had sharply turned right and went off the road, ultimately going down a steep drop and crashing into trees.
Mr Raison said Blaha was tested and blew 0.247 at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital after he was taken by paramedics following the incident.
Defence lawyer Rowena Ferrall said Blaha’s car worth $10,000 had been written off and continues to attend hospital for injuries sustained from the whiplash of the crash.
Blaha was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
A conviction was not recorded.
Adam Jeffrey Cairns
A dedicated SES volunteer and his lawyer insisted no conviction be recorded after he was caught driving almost four times the legal limit in a McDonald’s car park.
Adam Jeffrey Cairns pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 1 to one count of driving under the influence.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court police stopped a wagon for a breath test at a McDonald’s car park in Coolum Beach about 2.30am on June 8.
Cairns, who was the driver of the vehicle, blew 0.190 – almost four times the limit – when police tested him, the court heard.
Defence lawyer David Cole told the court his client has been a long-time volunteer in the community, particularly as part of the State Emergency Service for several years.
Mr Cole said Cairns had a “relapse” and has since completed rehabilitation courses.
Mr Cole asked for no conviction to be recorded for Cairns, in light of his Blue Card and his work as a community volunteer, which he “genuinely enjoys”.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist asked Cairns directly how it would be practical to not record a conviction.
“To me, it means I would be able to maintain my Blue Card status and continue doing what I’ve been doing for many years,” Cairns said.
Mr Stjernqvist responded it is certain a record would not affect him.
He fined Cairns $1100 and disqualified him from driving for a further nine months.
A conviction was not recorded.
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