Sean Johannes Murphy sentenced for repeat drug driving

A father’s shocking driving history was laid bare in court, along with what caused him to spiral. See what made the ‘wheels come off the wagon’.

Sean Johannes Murphy was sentenced in front of the Proserpine Magistrates Court for repeat drug driving and court order breaches.

A carpenter was told his traffic history was “shocking” after he was caught drug driving once again on a licence that had been disqualified twice.

Sean Johannes Murphy, 37, was arrested for drug driving on a disqualified licence in Beerwah on April 9.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said police arrested him at about 2:35pm for a roadside breath test which came back positive for methylamphetamine.

On January 3 this year, Murphy was caught once again drug driving on methylamphetamine in Caloundra West while his licence had been disqualified since September 15 2022.

“Most concerning are the traffic offences, and his disregard for the court orders imposed on him,” Ms Myors told the Proserpine Magistrates court.

Ms Myors told the court Murphy had also been charged with stealing after he was caught on CCTV stealing $11 worth of groceries that he had put in his backpack at Fresh and Safe in Beerwah on April 27.

Ms Myors said Murphy had previous convictions on his record for property offences as well.

Richard Rewald Lawyers solicitor Cleo Rewald said the “wheels came off the wagon” over two-and-a-half years ago for the 37-year-old dad when he separated from his partner.

Ms Rewald told the court Murphy had faced lack of employment and homelessness, leading him to stealing groceries, as an example.

“It’s not uncommon for people finding themselves in hard situations to fall into substances to try to deal,” Ms Rewald told the court.

She said Murphy had relocated to the Whitsundays for a new job and that he had handed himself in to the Whitsunday police station on January 14 after there had been a warrant for his arrest, when he failed to appear in court on December 13.

Acting magistrate Michael Bice told Murphy his traffic history was “shocking” and that there needed to be a more serious deterrent imposed to stop him from reoffending.

“We’ve come to the last resort with you,” Mr Bice said.

Murphy pleaded guilty to two counts of driving without a licence disqualified by a court order, two counts of drug driving, to stealing after previous conviction, to failing to appear in court proceedings and to driving a defective car.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of 18 months, his licence was suspended for a total period of five years and he was fined $1000.