Laine Brady Gough sentenced for assault and drink driving

An 18-year-old Whitsundays’ man has broken the law twice in one week with his actions described as ‘drunken stupidity’. Find out what he did.

Laine Brady Gough faced Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

A teenager has drunk-drove and crashed his car less than a week after being involved in a violent assault outside of a Whitsundays’ pub.

Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard Laine Brady Gough, 18, was caught up in an altercation with another man who had been “knocked to the ground” outside Bowen Hotel on July 9.

Prosecutor Lachlan Perry said CCTV showed Gough had “rais(ed) his foot before bringing it down on the side of the victim’s head”, with the victim suffering “cuts and severe bruising”.

Lee Turnbull and Co solicitor Richard Scholl said Gough’s behaviour was due to “drunken stupidity” and being “caught up in the moment”.

A week after the assault, Gough was caught drink-driving nearly three times over the blood alcohol limit after crashing his car on Banyan Dr in Bowen shortly after midnight on July 15.

Gough, who held a learner’s permit, had collided with three parked cars and told police he had earlier drank between eight to 10 beers.

He returned a 0.144 blood alcohol concentration.

The court further heard Gough was ordered to present to the Bowen Police Station on August 12 but did not attend until August 25.

Mr Scholl said Gough’s behaviour was out of character as he had not prior criminal or traffic record.

He asked the court to take into account Gough’s current struggles with mental health, which included hospitalisation after the recent suicide of a close friend.

Mr Scholl further asked Magistrate Michelle Howard to consider a sentence of community service instead of a fine for the assault as Gough was unemployed.

Ms Howard told Gough she would not record offences because she wanted to “give him the opportunity”, and urged him to get his life back together.

Gough pleaded guilty to drink-driving over the middle alcohol limit, to common assault while under the influence of an intoxicating substance, and to contravening a police direction.

Ms Scholl fined him $450, disqualified his licence for three months, and ordered he complete 60 hours of community service.