Janet Maskell Paton: Queensland Police Service staff member appears in court

A Queensland Police staffer has found herself on the wrong side of the law after she was found slumped over in the driver’s seat after crashing into a parked car.

A Queensland Police Service staffer was found slumped over the driver’s seat of a car after smashing into a parked vehicle, a court has heard.

Janet Maskell Paton, 37, appeared in the Sandgate Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one count of driving without due care and attention.

Paton was originally facing a second charge on driving under the influence, however the prosecution offered no evidence and the charge was dismissed.

The court heard Paton ended up on the wrong side of the law after police were called to attend a traffic crash on March 2, 2020 at Zillmere.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Duncan Blackburn told the court officers attended Pineapple St at 10.58am on March 2.

“Upon arrival, police observed the vehicle and the female slumped over the driver’s seat of that vehicle,” he said.

“That driver has since been identified as the defendant before the court.

“There was a witness who provided police with dashcam footage which showed defendant’s vehicle at quite a slow speed colliding with the rear of a parked vehicle.”

The court was told Paton was confused about her location, believing she was in Wynnum.

“Subsequent investigations by police revealed that prior to the crash the defendant had driven from her home address to the doctors then to a family member’s house and was attempting to return home when … she crashed,” Sgt Blackburn said.

“She had taken a number of prescription medications that morning without the full consideration of their impact on her ability to drive carefully.

“As a result she’s driven out of a lane and crashed into the parked vehicle causing minor damage.

“There’s no definitive speed recorded, it was a low speed around 10 to 15km an hour.”

The court was told the defendant has minor traffic history with no offences since 2016.

“All traffic matters are concerning and certainly the current road toll for this year is very high, much higher than in past years,” Sgt Blackburn said.

Paton’s lawyer, Mr Schoenmaker, told the court Paton had the support of her father, who accompanied her to court.

“Ms Paton has completed the QTop (program) and through that it has been largely beneficial she understands the consequences of driving,” he said.

“Certainly that’s something that no one would ordinarily do for a charge of this nature.”

The court heard Paton has been employed by the Queensland Police Service for nine years and no disciplinary action had been taken in regards to the charge.

“Ms Paton does have a very good traffic history,” Mr Schoenmaker said.

“She has very few entries with the last entry in 2016 and no criminal history.

“It is submitted that this is not a typical offence and is certainly out of character for Ms Paton.”

Magistrate Jennifer Batts said she took into account all the matters presented to the court.

She commended Paton for completing the QTop program.

“It demonstrates a lot of remorse,” Ms Batts said.

“The insights that you’ve shown there, as well as your age and stage in life certainly lead me to consider that you are unlikely to find yourself before the court again.”

She was fined $550 and no conviction was recorded.

The Queensland Police Service was contacted for comment regarding the matter.