Man narrowly misses jail time over suspended licence in Gatton Magistrates Court

The purse strings of Lockyer Valley traffic offenders were tightened with a magistrate handing out fines of up to $2000. See who fronted court for driving offences here.

A number of traffic offenders fronted Gatton Magistrates Court on March 4.

Multiple traffic offenders fronted Gatton Magistrates Court with some hit with massive fines and significant licence suspensions which will see some of them off the road for up to nine months.

See who was sentenced for traffic offences on March 4 below.

Assumtha Kurai

What seemed like a perfectly innocent act has left Assumtha Kurai without a licence and slapped with a major fine after she pleaded guilty to one count of in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor.

Police prosecutor sergeant Narelle Lowe told the court while conducting patrols Gatton Police located Ms Kurai sitting inside a Mazda cx8 at about 1.58am on December 27, which was parked in the Royal Hotel carpark.

Sgt Lowe said the vehicle’s engine was running and that Ms Kurai told officers she had turned the vehicle on to listen to music while she waited for her nephew who was driving her home.

The court was told Ms Kurai returned a positive breath analysis reading of 0.165.

Defence solicitor Joe McConnell told the court his client has been unable to drive since the offending which has had a significant impact on her ability to get to work.

Magistrate Melanie Ho imposed a six-month licence disqualification and a $1000 fine.

A conviction was recorded.

Clinton Newman

A man who has never held an Australian licence pleaded guilty to a number of traffic related offences in Gatton Magistrates Court on March 4.

Clinton Newman pleaded guilty to one count of in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of cannabis, one count of driving without a licence, one count of driving an uninsured vehicle, one count of driving an unregistered vehicle and using false plates, and one count of driving a defective vehicle.

The court was told police located Mr Newman parked at the Gatton train station at about 1.45am on September 21.

Police prosecutor sergeant Narelle Lowe told the court Mr Newman admitted to police that he didn’t hold a valid drivers licence in any country.

The court was also told further checks by police on the vehicle revealed the registration plates attached to the vehicle had been cancelled and had belonged to a different vehicle, and it was uninsured.

Police also noted the vehicle had sustained significant damage to its front and was missing a headlight.

The 21-year-old was given a roadside drug test after police noticed the smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and the Mr Newman seemed unsteady on his feet, with bloodshot eyes.

A later blood sample taken from Mr Newman returned a positive reading for cannabis.

Magistrate Ho warned Mr Newman he could face jail time if he was to get behind the wheel while disqualified from driving.

The 21-year-old was given a total licence suspension of nine months and fined $2000.

No conviction was recorded.

Gavin Edward Cole

A man narrowly avoided jail time after he was caught driving with a relevant drug in his system.

Gavin Edward Cole pleaded guilty to one count of driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva in the Gatton Magistrates Court on March 4.

Sgt Lowe told the court Cole was stopped by police while driving along Forest Hill Fernvale Rd for a random breath and drug test just after 11.30pm on September 18.

Cole tested positive and was taken to Laidley Police Station for a further test which revealed methamphetamine in his saliva.

Magistrate Ho urged Cole to get on top of his drug habit otherwise he would be looking at time in prison if he reoffends.

Cole was given a nine-month licence disqualification and was sentenced to 3-months imprisonment with immediate parole.

A conviction was recorded.

Darrell John Hedges

A mail mishap has left a Lockyer Valley man without a licence after he was caught driving without a valid licence.

Darrell John Hedges pleaded guilty to one count of driving while demerit point suspended and driving an uninsured vehicle in Gatton Magistrates Court on March 4.

Sgt Lowe told the court police had stopped Hedges along Laidley Plainland Rd just after 11pm on January 19, where a licence check revealed he was demerit point suspended until April.

Further checks also revealed the vehicle’s registration had expired just six days prior.

Hedges told police he was in the middle of moving house and hadn’t received any correspondence about his licence suspension and wasn’t aware his insurance had expired.

Magistrate Ho gave Hedges a six-month licence suspension and fined him $1000.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Man narrowly misses jail time over suspended licence in Gatton Magistrates Court