Ryan Elton: Logan tradie’s massive DUI could tank interstate work plans

A popular young Logan tradie blew massively over when police intercepted him ‘swerving’ all over the road after a big night at the pub.

A popular Logan tradie’s dreams of FIFO work for Rio Tinto in Western Australia are hanging by a thread after he pleaded guilty to middle-range drink driving but the barest of margins, blowing 0.149 per cent blood-alcohol content.

Meadowbrook man Ryan Kevin Elton, 23, was busted on Kilsay Cres at Meadowbrook about 11.45pm on February 26, Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday.

The court heard he was picked up by officers on mobile patrol on Edenlea Dr, after his white utility vehicle was witnessed “swerving” off to the left of his lane.

Defence lawyer Craig van der Hoven and Meadowbrook tradie Ryan Kevin Elton. Picture: Alex Treacy

He avoided a driving under the influence of liquor charge by 0.001 per cent.

Defence lawyer Craig van der Hoven told the court his client, an alumnus of Calvary Christian College Carbrook, had finished work and only intended to have “two or three” drinks at the Meadowbrook Hotel, but ended up consuming seven after bumping into “a number of friends” there.

“It was not his intention to drink drive, but he had his tools in the vehicle, which have been stolen previously, and it was those he was thinking of when he got behind the wheel,” Mr van der Hoven said.

“He was very shocked when the reading came back as high as it did.”

Mr van der Hoven said any disqualification would be particularly deleterious to his client, who is an electrician, as it was “somewhat imperative” he be able to get to and from jobs, especially as Elton had been offered a three weeks on, one week off subcontracting opportunity in Western Australia with Rio Tinto.

Magistrate Clare Kelly voiced concern at the “significantly high” reading and warned Elton he could have “lost a lot more than just your tools”.

He was disqualified from four months and fined $700.

No conviction was recorded.

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