8 Whitsunday drink, drug drivers sentenced at Proserpine, Bowen courts
A meth-smoking mum was happy to provide details of her habit when she was one of eight Whitsunday drivers facing drink-driving or drug-driving charges.
Police & Courts
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Your list of Whitsunday drink-driving or drug-driving in court last week for sentencing.
1. Sharnee Maree Rollason pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in her blood or saliva.
Bowen Magistrates Court heard Rollason had methylamphetamine in her system when police stopped her on Scenic Crescent, Bowen, about 7.20pm on April 28.
The 35-year-old stay-at-home mother told the court she smoked meth “every now and then” and had smoked it three days before to being pulled up.
“I thought I’d be right but I obviously wasn’t,” Rollason said.
When Magistrate James Morton asked what smoking meth was like, Rollason responded “It goes all right”.
When he asked how much it cost, she said “too much”, but went on to explain “a point every now and then” cost her $50 each time.
Mr Morton disqualified Rollason’s licence for two months, and imposed a $450 fine.
A conviction was recorded.
2. Paige Natia Lynch pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in her blood or saliva while on a provisional licence.
The court heard police intercepted Lynch on Stanley Street, Collinsville about 12.10pm on May 1 and testing confirmed the presence of marijuana in her saliva.
The 21-year-old bartender told police she had smoked marijuana two days prior.
Magistrate James Morton fined Lynch $450 and disqualified her licence for three months.
A conviction was recorded.
3. Federico Pisani pleaded guilty to driving while over the general alcohol limit.
The court heard Pisani blew 0.065 when pulled over for a breath test on Soldiers Road, Bowen, on May 29.
Pisani told police he had drunk “a couple of beers”, the last of them an hour before driving.
The chilli farm worker was fined $400 and his licence was disqualified for one month.
A conviction was recorded.
4. Darrian Joshua Fox pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva while on a provisional licence.
The court heard Fox had marijuana in his saliva when police pulled him over on Fifth Ave, Scottville, about 2.40pm on April 28.
Fox told police he had used marijuana the week prior.
The bobcat operator was fined $400 and his licence was disqualified for three months.
A conviction was recorded.
5. Andrew David Gowanlock pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit.
The court heard Gowanlock blew 0.141 when stopped for a breath test on Herbert Street, Bowen, about 12.45am on May 22.
He told police he had been drinking at a friend’s place at Horseshoe Bay and had consumed eight XXXX Gold’s before getting behind the wheel to “drop a mate’s girlfriend home”.
Magistrate James Morton disqualified Gowanlock’s licence for 10 months, imposed a $950 fine, and recorded a conviction.
Gowanlock was granted a C Class licence to continue his work as an electrician, but his solicitor’s request that he also be granted a motorcycle licence was denied.
6. Mathew James Thomson pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in his blood or saliva while on a provisional licence, driving without a licence repeat offender, and contravene direction or requirement of police.
The court heard Thomson had meth and marijuana in his saliva when police stopped him on Leichhardt Street, Bowen about 2.40pm on April 30.
The 38-year-old told police he had smoked marijuana the day before.
His solicitor Peta Vernon told the court at the time of the intercept, Thomson was driving his partner to Bowen “so she could get her licence back”.
She said Thomson was “the lesser of two evils” out of the two unlicensed drivers.
The court heard Thomson had four previous unlicensed driving convictions and was on probation at the time of the latest offence.
Magistrate James Morton disqualified Thomson’s licence for seven months, and fined him $1000. Convictions were recorded.
7. Iyas Z Shaheen pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.
Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Shaheen blew 0.198 when police stopped him for a breath test on Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach about 3.25am on May 15.
The 54-year-old restaurateur told police he had been drinking whisky and vodka with mixers and had consumed about 10 drinks between the hours of 6pm and 11pm.
Magistrate James Morton fined Shaheen $1200 and disqualified his licence for nine months. A conviction was recorded.
8. Jack Noel Thornton pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in blood or saliva while on a provisional licence, and driving without a licence demerit points.
The court heard Thornton had marijuana in his system when police stopped him on the Bruce Highway at Hamilton Plains about 8.30pm on March 20.
The 26-year-old landscaper told police he had “smoked half a joint at a gathering a week ago”.
Magistrate James Morton imposed $800 in fines, and disqualified Thornton’s licence for nine months. Convictions were recorded.
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