North Stradbroke Island ranger among multiple high-range drink drivers at Cleveland court

A North Stradbroke Island ranger was among a host of high-range drink drivers at a court as the state’s road death toll climbs.

A North Stradbroke ranger who drove while more than three times the legal alcohol limit was among multiple drivers at a bayside court who pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving, or driving while under the influence of liquor (DUI).

Justine Gregory Ladbrooke-Parkin, 20, was supported by multiple family members when he fronted Cleveland Magistrates Court on March 1.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta warned the defendant that “at least you did not kill anybody; you could have been sitting in the dock charged with dangerous driving causing death”.

The sombre statement followed statistics shown to the court detailing the 39 deaths that have occurred on Queensland roads so far this year – 20 more than the same time last year.

The court heard Ladbrooke-Parkin had been intercepted at around 11.25pm on East Coast Road on North Stradbroke Island.

Tests would confirm a blood-alcohol reading of 0.157 per cent.

Defence solicitor Sarah Pascoe said the man had an impressive work history, had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program (QTOP) and provided numerous glowing references.

With no likewise history to his name, Ladbrooke-Parkin was fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

Holmview woman Sherri Maree Keys, 49, was almost four times over the legal alcohol limit when she was intercepted on Mosman Street in Charters Towers on January 23, the court was told.

Having recently moved, the former Charters Towers woman said she was “just stupid” when she drove on the day with a confirmed blood-alcohol reading of 0.180 per cent.

Magistrate Vasta said although the defendant did “not have the best traffic history” she had no previous entries for drink driving.

Keys was fined $1,600 and disqualified from driving for six months with no conviction recorded.

And Thornlands woman Lisa Louise Carlton, 30, told the court the best decision she had made in the aftermath of her high-range drink driving offence was to complete the QTOP course.

MORE COURT STORIES:

The women who shocked Cleveland Magistrates Court with their high-range drink driving

North Stradbroke Island man Creon Drew Inger assaults mate for calling police over drink drive

Straddie senior ranger punches woman through car window in ‘moment of madness’

Intercepted on Woodlands Drive on February 13, she would show a reading of 0.176 – nearly four times the legal limit.

Carlton was fined $1,500 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.