Matthew James Davitt in Proserpine court for drink driving, driving without due care

A commercial diver who picks sea cucumbers was supposed to drive his unregistered vehicle straight home — but he went to the pub and got on the drink instead.

Matthew James Davitt appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on 9 June 2025 charged with drink driving, driving without due care, and driving unregistered.

A sea cucumber diver was more than three times over the limit and reeked of alcohol when he was caught ripping burnouts in an unregistered car directly in front of a police vehicle, narrowly missing them.

On 13 April at around 9pm Matthew James Davitt was pulled over by police after they witnessed him “purposefully lose traction and drive in a circle” on Jubilee Pocket Road, Jubilee Pocket.

The court heard it was dark and the road was wet at the time of the incident and police had to brake to avoid Mr Davitt.

Police Prosecutor Lucy Hughes said despite being marked Mr Davitt did not see the police car.

She said police could smell liquor emanating from the car and Mr Davitt had slurred speech and slowed movements.

Mr Davitt told police he had been drinking beers and Magnums and Jubilee Tavern earlier that night and his last drink was just 30 minutes earlier.

Breath testing returned a result of 0.175g of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

The court heard Mr Davitt had also driven the unregistered vehicle from Townsville earlier that day.

While he had a permit to drive to Jubilee Pocket to get his car home, he instead drove to the pub and sank several beers.

The 22-year-old commercial diver said he had no real reason to do what he did that night, his only excuse was that he had a mate’s fishing equipment in the back and did not want to leave it unattended.

He added this type of behaviour was a rarity for him and he had certainly learned his lesson.

“I’m glad the cops got me,” he said.

He pleaded guilty in the Proserpine Magistrates Court to driving under the influence of liquor, driving without due care, and driving unregistered.

Magistrate Anna Smith said she took into account the seriousness of the offence and the time he had already been off the road after the incident.

Mr Davitt received a $1050 fine for driving under the influence and a six month disqualification for holding a licence, for driving without due care he received a $400 fine and a one month disqualification, and for driving unregistered he received a $300 fine.

No convictions were recorded.