Sunshine Coast sports stars who have been sentenced in court | List
They’re known for their displays of athleticism on the field however there are some Sunshine Coast sport stars who have made their way to court due to their off-field actions.
Police & Courts
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They’re used to showing emphatic displays of athleticism on the sporting pitch but there have been several sports stars on the Sunshine Coast who have pleaded guilty in the region’s courts.
From rugby union to boxing and motocross, these are some of the Sunshine Coast sports stars who have been sentenced in court.
CONVICTED
Motocross – Brock Jeffrey Winston
A former professional motocross rider turned concreter was arrested by police after a drug raid on his Eumundi home uncovered a cocktail of party and controlled drugs.
Brock Jeffrey Winston was at his home in Eumundi about 7.45am on May 27, 2021 when police descended on the property and found 50g of marijuana, 0.44g of MDMA and a small amount of cocaine and testosterone.
Defence lawyer David Neuendorf said Winston had been a professional motocross rider in his earlier years before retiring and returning to his career as a concreter.
Winston pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs, unlawful possession of a controlled drug, and possessing property suspected of being used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.
He was fined $1300, with a conviction recorded.
Rugby league – Bailey Kingsford Weyer
A Sunshine Coast rugby league player punched a man so savagely in a Maroochydore nightclub it left him with a serious nose disfigurement, a court heard.
Bailey Kingsford Weyer, 22, was sentenced to a suspended jail term after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm in Maroochydore District Court on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Maroochydore District Court heard Weyer had punched a man so hard in the face at the Duporth Tavern on June 25, 2021, it resulted in a “serious disfigurement” to the complainant’s noise.
The assault occurred following a protracted incident between the complainant and Weyer’s friends earlier in the evening.
Weyer was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, suspended for two years and was ordered to pay $3000 compensation.
A conviction was recorded.
Soccer – Josh David Sansucie
A Sunshine Coast soccer coach and an “aspiring elite sportsman” was seen talking to walls after swerving off the Bruce Highway and narrowly missing concrete barriers during a dangerous drive to a Yandina training session.
Josh David Sansucie was sentenced to a nine-month suspended sentence for two years on November 9, 2021 after he pleaded guilty to five charges including dangerous operation of a car and driving under the influence of a drug on July 12, 2021.
Solicitor Mark Gregory said Sansucie, who from a young age was working towards becoming an elite sportsman, was facing a tough decision about whether he would continue his soccer career or join the workforce.
He was disqualified for a total of one year for the dangerous operation, failing to provide a specimen and driving under the influence and two years for each of the driving while suspended charges.
Convictions were recorded.
Boxing – Russell Witheridge
A Doonan personal trainer and Muay Thai boxing champion was found with white powder in his wallet that was later identified as cocaine.
Russell Phillip Witheridge, 34, had previously been convicted of trafficking back in 2013 and pleaded guilty to a possession charge in Noosa Magistrates Court on February 22, 2022.
The court heard he had 4.2g of white powder that contained 1.5g of pure cocaine.
Solicitor Chelsea Emery said her client had worked in the fitness industry and was the Muay Thai boxing titleholder for Queensland.
Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin sentenced Witheridge to six months’ prison suspended for two years.
Convictions were recorded.
Rugby league – Amalee Mckayla-Ann McClellan
A 22-year-old Caloundra rugby league player tried to snatch her car keys from a police officer in a daring escape after she was busted driving disqualified.
Amalee Mckayla-Ann McClellan had been driving in Coochin Creek near the Bruce Hwy about 2.30am on November 21, 2022 when police saw her driving without a registration plate.
Caloundra Magistrates Court heard when McClellan gave police a fake name and date of birth she lunged for her keys to escape but was arrested.
She pleaded guilty to possessing utensils, drugs, driving disqualified, obstructing police and failing to comply with a requirement to provide her name and was sentenced to a three month good behaviour bond.
McClellan was also ordered to perform 60 hours’ community service and disqualified from driving for two years.
Convictions were recorded on disqualified driving, obstructing police and the power to require name and address.
No convictions were recorded on the drug charges.
AFL player Jake Tyson Warren
A Maroochydore Roos player made a costly mistake to pick up his girlfriend after downing several beers, a court has heard.
Jake Tyson Warren was fined $850 in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on April 22, 2022 after he pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit on April 1, 2022.
The court heard Warren had enjoyed four to five beers before he made the “mistake” of going to pick up his girlfriend.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said police pulled the 22-year-old over along Noosa Dr, Noosa Heads around and blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.075.
The court heard Warren played AFL on the Sunshine Coast.
He fined him $850 and disqualified him from driving for four months.
Traffic convictions were recorded.
Rugby union – Borore Howton
A well-known Noosa rugby union player was found slurring his words with empty and unopened cans at his feet at the scene of his crashed van before he blew more than four times over the limit.
Police were called to a car crash on Boxing Day 2021 where they found a 23-year-old behind the wheel of the van that had crashed into a Holden Rodeo.
Howton blew a positive roadside breath test and was then taken to hospital where he recorded a BAC of 0.223.
Howton pleaded guilty in Noosa Magistrates Court on March 8, 2022 to driving over the high alcoholic limit and driving without due care and attention.
He was banned from driving for 10 months, fined $1300 and had convictions recorded.
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