Savanna Energy rig manager Kieran William Garnett fronts Toowoomba court for drink driving

A fly-in-fly-out energy worker had to be forcibly removed from his Harley-Davidson motorcycle after he left a Toowoomba pub more than three times the legal limit.

Kieran William Garnett.

A Toowoomba dad who works in the energy sector has fronted court over a number of offences that he doesn’t remember committing after a day of heavy drinking in September.

New Zealand born tradesman Kieran William Garnett appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, November 28, and pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a motorcycle while adversely affected, obstructing police while drunk in a public place, and not having a rear number plate attached.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said plain-clothed officers in an unmarked police car saw Garnett leave the Shamrock Hotel about 9am on September 28, and jump onto a black Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Kieran William Garnett.

Ms Page said the 34-year-old then did a burnout which lasted about 5m.

She said the officers caught up with Garnett at a set of lights near James St, where they ran towards him and yelled at him to get off the bike, however a scuffle ensued.

At one point, Ms Page said Garnett almost ran over the officer’s feet, as he continued to rev the bike and attempt to ride off.

Ms Page said Garnett was eventually arrested after the bike tipped over, however he did struggle with officers on the road before he was handcuffed.

He recorded a BAC of 0.151 at the station, and Ms Page said officers observed he almost fell asleep on a number of occasions.

The court was told the father of one had been drinking all day, and was in an “extremely vulnerable mental state” due to his “historic depression and anxiety”.

The Toowoomba courthouse.

The court was told Garnett worked as a rig manager for Savanna Energy Services which usually consisted of between 13 and 16 hour work days, on a two-week-on-two-weeks-off rotation.

Garnett often worked at energy assets in southwest Queensland, however the court heard on one occasion the energy company flew him to Canada to commission rigs for Savanna Australia’s Queensland base.

Magistrate Clare Kelly told Garnett he acted poorly and noted he was before the court for drink driving in 2019 – on that occasion he blew 0.111.

Ms Kelly encouraged the father to continue with his mental health care plan and alcohol counselling.

She also acknowledged he had worked for Savanna Australia for almost a decade and went to great lengths to see his six-year-old son who lived in Tasmania.

Garnett was fined $800, his licence was disqualified for nine months, and he was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

The court was told Garnett’s bike was still in the possession of the police, and the storage fee and towing costs had already exceeded $2000.

A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Savanna Energy rig manager Kieran William Garnett fronts Toowoomba court for drink driving