Mitchell Lee Nightingale: Serial drink driving pest left kids ‘traumatised’ in near-miss
A serial drink driving scrap metal worker from Sunnybank Hills caught behind the wheel over five times the legal limit has fronted court after a “traumatising” near-miss involving a car with kids inside.
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A serial drink driving scrap metal worker from Sunnybank Hills caught behind the wheel over five times the legal limit has fronted court after a “traumatising” near-miss in Woodridge involving a car with kids inside.
Mitchell Lee Nightingale, 36, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday to driving under the influence, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving unlicensed, possessing utensils or pipes for use and committing a public nuisance in licensed premises.
Police prosecutor Tahlia Boettcher told the court police were called after Nightingale had been abusing and throwing rubbish at bottle shop staff working at The Queenslander in Marsden on July 23, 2021.
He returned an alcohol reading of 0.295 per cent and was spoken to by police but chose to get behind the wheel again later that day.
The court heard Nightingale had crashed into a traffic light at an intersection in Woodridge and narrowly missed hitting a car with a family and two children inside.
Police attended, and he returned an alcohol reading of 0.224 per cent.
Magistrate Michael O’Driscoll said Nightingale had a “deplorable” traffic history after getting caught with alcohol readings on previous occasions.
“Thank goodness no one was killed as a result of your foolishness,” he said.
“The family was traumatised.”
Nightingale’s lawyer said her client has had issues with alcohol for some 20 years, but he’s largely managed to maintain his sobriety.
She said on this occasion he had reached a “boiling point” due to work and relationship pressures and consumed a “frightening” number of drinks the night before.
He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment with an immediate parole release date.
He was disqualified from driving for two years.
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