Blueberry pickers in Coffs Harbour court on a range of traffic charges

One man was living in his van at the time of the offence and another had what the magistrate described as an “incredibly high” breath alcohol reading.

A blueberry picker at work.

Three berry pickers appeared in Coffs Harbour court on Monday charged with a range of traffic offences.

One man, originally from Vanuatu, was homeless and living out of a van.

Another, from Malaysia, was moving accommodation and made the decision to drive without a licence - his third such offence in recent times.

The industry is incredibly lucrative and has experienced rapid growth in recent years with Coffs Harbour home to more than 65 per cent of Australia’s blueberry crop.

But a report titled Blue Harvest, conducted by the The McKell Institute and sponsored by The Retail Supply Chain Alliance unions, has outlined widespread exploitation, wage theft, and abuse in the industry in Coffs Harbour.

Almost four times over

Jack Nakat from Vanuatu pleaded guilty to high range drink driving.

He is in the region picking berries and the offence took place on December 26.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers described his reading as “incredibly high” - nearly four times the legal limit.

The 29-year-old was convicted and fined $880.

Living out of a van

John Korombi pleaded guilty to driving with a low range concentration of alcohol on December 5.

The 28-year-old also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving.

The court heard Mr Korombi, who is originally from Vanuatu, is in the region picking berries.

His lawyer said at the time of the offence Mr Korombi was living out of his van.

He was not convicted but fined $440 and disqualified from holding a driver’s/rider’s licence for three months for the low range drink driving charge.

For driving without a licence he was fined $330 but not convicted.

Third offence “in quick succession”

Malaysian national Richie Ong Chonn Shann pleaded guilty to disqualified driving.

Mr Shann’s lawyer told the court he had to be out of his short-term accommodation and had nobody to help him move when he made the decision to drive.

He also pleaded for leniency in relation to a fine saying “the season has not been good because of the rain”.

Mr Rodgers delivered a stern warning to the 32-year-old, saying the December 6 offence was his third “in quick succession”.

“If there are any more (offences) courts will look at other penalties and by that, I mean jail,” Mr Rodgers said.

“Some magistrates would consider that today.”

Instead, he disqualified Mr Shann from holding a driver’s/rider’s licence for six months and fined him $880. He was not convicted.