List of drink-drivers and drug-drivers sentenced at Bowen, Proserpine courts
Nine drink-drivers and four drug-drivers had their licences disqualified at Whitsunday courts this week. SEE THE FULL LIST.
Police & Courts
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Here is your round up of drink-drivers and drug-drivers sentenced at Proserpine and Bowen this week.
Drink-drivers
1. Laura Elizabeth Billett
The Alva Beach dive shop receptionist admitted it was “a bit silly” to drive instead of walk the 200 metres back to her Airlie Beach accommodation after a night out drinking on September 14.
Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Billet had a 0.121 BAC when police pulled her over on Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale just before 1am.
She pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit and told the court she“thought [she] could make it without getting pulled over”.
Magistrate James Morton fined her $600 and disqualified her licence for five months, with a conviction recorded.
2. Pauliasi Tekitau Ofahulu
The 35-year-old mine worker and lawn maintenance business operator had a 0.108 BAC when he gave a friend a lift back to their Bowen accommodation via Dalrymple St on October 29.
Bowen Magistrates Court heard Ofahulu drank 10 Great Northern beers and three Jack Daniels cans before his 11.42pm breath test.
He pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit and told the court a friend of his visiting from Brisbane “didn’t want to walk home so [he] offered to give her a lift”.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $850 and disqualified his licence for eight months, with a conviction recorded.
3. Brenden Joseph John Neale
The self-described “lazy” unemployed and unlicensed 18 year old drank an unknown quantity of Johnnie Walker, beer, rum and Midori before catching the attention of police on the Bruce Highway at Proserpine on October 6.
The court heard Neale had a 0.108 BAC when police escorting a wide load stopped him near the Renwick Rd intersection about 11.30pm because of his manner of driving.
He told officers he had been drinking at two pubs and at a friend’s house before asking a woman if he could drive her car.
He pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit and driving without a licence and told the court he did not know where he was going in the car.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $1250 and disqualified him from obtaining a licence for 12 months, with convictions recorded.
4. Kellie Maree Constable
The hospitality company sales rep blew 0.081 BAC when police breath tested her on Taylor St, Proserpine on October 23.
The court heard she was on her way to Mount Julian after downing two glasses of white wine at a residence about 8.50pm.
She pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit and said she considered herself a “good, law-abiding citizen”.
Magistrate James Morton granted her a work licence, fined her $600 and disqualified her licence for six months, with a conviction recorded.
5. Joel Mitchell Barnes
The 28-year-old forklift driver was travelling north on the Bruce Highway when police busted him with a 0.076 BAC.
The court heard Barnes consumed 12 to 14 drinks of beer and rum at home in Ooralea the night before his 8.30am breath test at Proserpine.
He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.
The sentence for the October 16 offence was a $400 fine and a two-month licence disqualification, with a conviction recorded.
6. Laslo Urban Reynolds
The marine electronics company managing director blew 0.070 BAC driving home from a “spur of the moment” night out at friends’ places on October 16.
Reynolds told the court he drank full strength Tooheys New beer but “thought [he] was OK” before police pulled him over on Shute Harbour Rd at Jubilee Pocket, about 12.15am.
He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit and successfully applied for a work licence.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $500 and disqualified his licence for six months, with a conviction recorded.
7. John Vivian Maltby
The 55 year old drank three mid-strength Great Northern beers before police busted him at a random breath test site on Blair St, Proserpine on October 22.
The court heard his 5.35pm test returned a reading of 0.069 BAC.
He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.
His sentence was $350 fine and a one-month licence disqualification, with a conviction recorded.
8. Brett Manly Donaghey
The 61-year-old bricklayer had a 0.068 BAC when police breath tested him on Turner Rd, Riordanvale on September 18.
Proserpine Magistrates Court he drank two heavy XXXX Bitter stubbies before getting behind the wheel that morning, just before 10am, plus a number of stubbies and shots of rum the night before.
He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $400 and disqualified his licence for one month, with a conviction recorded.
9. Benjamin Paul Berthelot
Berthelot blew 0.057 BAC in a breath test on Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale on October 14 after drinking two glasses of wine and two beers.
He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.
The sentence was a $350 fine and a one-month licence disqualification, with a conviction recorded.
Drug-drivers
10. Angus Raymond Crouch
The 34-year-old underground miner had marijuana in his system when police drug-tested him on Gregory Cannon Valley Rd, Strathdickie on September 2.
The court heard he told officers he had made a mistake by having a joint before going for a drive about 2.40pm.
The father of one pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva and told Proserpine Magistrates Court he “shouldn’t have done it”.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $450 and disqualified his licence for two months, with a conviction recorded.
11. Manoel Filipe Nascimento Cahu
The Brazil-born chef tested positive for marijuana while driving along the Bruce Highway at Coochin Creek on August 24, despite telling officers it had been four weeks since he had last used the drug.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $350 and disqualified his licence for one month, with a conviction recorded.
12. Britt Koa Neal
The 42-year-old full time carer and former cruise ship cook had been using marijuana for pain relief in the lead up to her August 13 roadside drug test at Cannonvale.
Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Neal had a serious motorbike crash resulting in a broken neck and brain bleed in 2017 and had used marijuana medicinally “on and off” ever since.
Defence lawyer Peta Vernon said her client had recently obtained a prescription for medical marijuana but did not hold one at the time she was pulled over on Shute Harbour Rd.
She pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva and Magistrate James Morton fined her $500 and disqualified her licence for two months, with a conviction recorded.
13. Daniel Peter Hall
Hall pleaded guilty to driving with meth and marijuana in his system, while on a provisional licence, on the Bruce Highway at Proserpine on June 29.
He told the court he had recently found work with a mobile farm fencing company and did not use drugs anymore.
“I’ve been off the drugs, trying to get my life together - I have gone through a bit of a horrible time with it, the withdrawals and everything but I’m finding that I’m actually a lot better in myself,” he said.
Magistrate James Morton fined him $600 and disqualified his licence for five months, with a conviction recorded.
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