Warwick drink/drug drivers sentenced in court - full list

A young man who racked up a staggering number of charges in only days and a mum caught behind the wheel after ‘celebrating’ with marijuana were just two of the residents to recently front court for drink/drug driving. FULL LIST HERE.

A young Warwick man who racked up close to 20 drug and traffic charges in only a few days was just one of the residents to be sentenced in court for drink or drug driving offences recently.

William Glen Cowell first landed in hot water on November 21 when he was spotted by police pulling out of the Ampol service station into East St in a blue car with number plates registered to a different vehicle.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 19-year-old sped away from officers despite their warning lights and sirens, and told the police who eventually tracked him down that he panicked when he saw them trying to catch up with him.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the incorrect number plates were registered to another vehicle that was later found parked outside his house.

Sergeant de Lissa said it was just a week later that Cowell was pulled over on Victoria St in Warwick, where he tested positive to marijuana in his system and was busted with 12 marijuana seeds, three pipes, a glass bowl and a set of scales stashed in his car.

The court was told Cowell was caught on both this occasion and only three days earlier driving the same vehicle that was unregistered, uninsured, and not displaying the correct P-plates or number plates.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said her client had a clean criminal history and this stack of charges had served as a serious wake-up call.

“I can say he’s certainly learnt his lesson. When I spoke to him earlier, he and his mother were very concerned he would be looking at jail time,” she said.

“His father has been diagnosed with kidney disease and his mother has been diagnosed with cancer, and these all go into the mix at the time.”

Cowell pleaded guilty to one count each of drug driving, evading police, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils or items suspected of being connected to a drug offence, and a further 11 traffic offences.

He was fined $8467, placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond, and disqualified from driving for two years and three months.

He was also given a drug diversion. No conviction was recorded.

These were the other residents recently sentenced for drink or drug driving offences:

Being caught drink driving on a busy Warwick road was only the beginning of run-ins with police for Warwick man Jahmarley Dawson.

The 26-year-old and probationary licence holder was nabbed on Fitzroy St on November 2 last year, where he recorded a BAC of 0.036.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told it was only weeks later that officers were called to Palmerin St in the early hours of the morning, after Dawson was spotted throwing 11 shopping trolleys out onto the road.

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman said his client had recently lost his job and felt as if everything was going wrong in his life, which did not excuse but at least put into context Dawson’s behaviour.

Mr Chapman said Dawson was also an important member of the indigenous community and was balancing caring for his two-year-old son with studying.

Dawson pleaded guilty to one count each of drink driving and committing a public nuisance.

He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Only traffic convictions were recorded.

A few drinks on New Year’s Eve landed Christopher Tosh Dawson in court when he was caught driving while over the limit the next day.

The Warwick man recorded a BAC of 0.055 when he was pulled over on Wallace St on January 1.

The indigenous cultural teacher told the court it was an honest mistake as he believed he would be able to drive after not drinking more that day.

Dawson pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Danielle O’Brien was taken off the roads for six months after she was nabbed drug driving through Warwick.

The Warwick woman was caught on East St at about 9.30pm on November 13, where she tested positive to meth in her system.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said O’Brien admitted to using the drug in the days leading up to being pulled over.

A self-represented O’Brien told the court she thought she would be right to drive having consumed meth a few days earlier, and would struggle to get to her retail job without driving given the region’s lack of public transport services.

O’Brien pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined $550.

Seth Jacab Thornton caught a lucky break when he was granted a work licence after being busted behind the wheel at twice the alcohol limit.

The 20-year-old was nabbed on Locke St on December 17 last year, where he recorded a BAC of 0.1.

The court was told the building apprentice had no previous drink driving offences and this incident arose from a “silly decision” to drive when he had no real need to.

Thornton pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for four months.

No conviction was recorded.

Brendon Clay Giffin was taken off the roads for six months after he was busted behind the wheel with meth in his system.

The 24-year-old was nabbed while driving on Warwick Killarney Rd on December 11 last year.

The Warwick father could not offer any explanation for his offending, only telling the court he was living at Killarney while actively looking for work to better support his children.

Giffin pleaded guilty to drug driving. He was fined $650.

Celebrating the end of a tough year by smoking marijuana cost P-plater Layla-Rose Wolfenden her licence for three months.

The mother of two was nabbed on Wallace St on December 17 last year, where she tested positive to the drug in her system.

A self-represented Wolfenden told the Warwick court she and her partner had bought a house and welcomed a new baby throughout the year, but had also endured some difficult times and decided to celebrate.

“We don’t drink, we don’t do anything else, and I made that choice to smoke the (marijuana),” she said.

Wolfenden pleaded guilty to drug driving. She was fined $350 and no conviction was recorded.