Warwick drink/drug drivers sentenced in court this week – full list

A serial drug driver caught in a brazen theft only days before his latest offence and a man busted speeding while more than twice the alcohol limit were just two of the people sentenced for drink/drug driving this week. FULL LIST HERE.

A serial offender who was caught stealing from a Warwick business in the same week he drove with meth in his system was just one of the residents sentenced for drink or drug driving this week.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told that Erol Stanley Karkoe was nabbed behind the wheel with meth in his system on October 20 last year while driving through Oman Ama.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said it was only five days later that Karkoe was caught pinching a $99 toolkit from Supercheap Auto store in Warwick, with CCTV footage identifying the 55-year-old stuffing the item down his pants before walking out without paying.

“With his traffic history, this will be his fifth (like offence) in five years. I would submit it’s time for something other than fines,” he said.

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman said his client fell back into drug use about 18 months ago in an attempt to cope with the death of his wife of 17 years, but knew it was the wrong choice and the main reason he was then before the courts.

Mr Chapman said Karkoe was needing to repair his car after his son had collided with a kangaroo while driving it, and decided to steal the tools because he did not think he could afford them and new parts at the same time.

Magistrate Julian Noud warned Karkoe it was likely more good luck than anything else that spared him another dangerous and likely expensive incident on the roads.

“It says on this occasion that you were experiencing tight financial circumstances, but you would know that there’s a lot of members of the community experiencing tight financial circumstances at the moment,” he said.

Karkoe pleaded guilty to one count each of drug driving and unauthorised dealing with shop goods.

He was placed on probation for nine months, disqualified from driving for eight months, and ordered to pay a $450 fine and full restitution.

These were the other residents sentenced in Warwick Magistrates Court this week:

A man who was busted speeding along a back road while more than twice the legal alcohol limit was told he was fortunate to not have caused injury to himself or anyone else in the dangerous incident.

Richard John Evans first caught police attention when he was nabbed driving on Warwick Allora Rd at 113km/h, well above the 100km/h speed limit posted on the narrow route.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told Warwick Magistrates Court that Evans was then breathalysed at the sign, where he recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.127.

The self-represented 63-year-old claimed he was speeding because he was running late for an appointment, and blamed a “pretty crook” back for his high alcohol reading.

“I have problems sleeping and that’s why I drink, but I’ve spoken to my doctor and we’re looking at doing something about it,” Evans said.

“I’m very, very remorseful about what I did.”

Evans pleaded guilty to one count each of drink driving and speeding.

He was fined $925 and disqualified from driving for five months.

Craig Donald Kenway was taken off the roads for three months after he was caught drink driving on a probationary licence.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told the 62-year-old recorded a BAC of 0.073 when he was pulled over on Percy St in January.

Duty lawyer Phillip Crook said the Warwick man was a well-respected businessman who had been struggling with psychological issues at the time.

Kenway pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving and was also fined $550.

A man described as “very unlucky” by police for being caught behind the wheel while at the exact alcohol limit has managed to walk away from court with the minimum licence disqualification.

William Thomas Reed was busted on Stonehenge Rd at Karara on February 26, recording a BAC of 0.05 at the scene.

The 24-year-old told Warwick Magistrates Court he needed his licence for work as a diesel mechanic in the Roma area, but knew it was “a given” that he would lose it for a period.

Reed pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

David Gordon Kinlan lost his licence for a month after being caught drink driving in Allora.

He recorded a BAC of 0.055 when he was pulled over by police on Ford St in March.

The self-represented man told the court he had since completed an online Queensland Traffic Offenders Program and that he was remorseful for his actions.

“I realised that drinking and driving just don’t go together, and it’s not something I’m ever going to be doing in the future,” he said.

Kinlan pleaded guilty to drink driving and was fined $350.

A P-plater busted driving on a busy Warwick road with drugs in his system had his licence disqualified for three months after facing court.

Euan James Kennedy was nabbed on Rosehill Rd at Warwick on February 6, where he tested positive to marijuana in his system.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined $350. No conviction was recorded.

A Warwick mother blamed a difficult time in her life for being caught driving with marijuana in her system.

Rachael Pamela Gundy was nabbed behind the wheel with marijuana in her system while driving on Freestone Rd at Warwick on January.

Sergeant de Lissa told Warwick Magistrates Court that the 21-year-old woman had a clean traffic record.

The self-represented mother said she was now a stay-at-home mum and needed her licence to take her daughter to daycare and other responsibilities.

“I was going through a hard time at that point, but I’m now seeing a counsellor and she’s helped a lot with that,” Gundy said.

Gundy pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving, and was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

A repeat drug-driving offender was taken off the roads for six months after she fronted court for her latest offending.

Donna Ann Maree Lambert tested positive to meth in her system when she was pulled over at Maryvale in November last year.

The Warwick court was told the 47-year-old was on a provisional licence at the time and was last sentenced for like offending in 2019.

Lambert pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving, and was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months.