Richard Moore: Gold Coast psychologist fined, disqualified for high-range drink-driving

A Gold Coast psychologist has paid a steep price after he was found to have driven with a child in his vehicle while more than three-and-a-half times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Gold Coast psychologist Richard Moore, 44, of Gaven. Picture: Instagram/psycoachingwithrichard

A Gold Coast psychologist has paid a steep price after he was found to have driven with a child in his vehicle while more than three-and-a-half times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Gaven man Richard Garry Moore, 45, who owns and operates Southport-based clinic PSYCoaching, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of liquor.

The offence occurred on the evening of Saturday, April 26, at Leo Graham Way, Oxenford.

Police prosecutor Rodney Keyte told the court police received a call for service just after 9.30pm.

Upon their arrival at Our Medical Gold Coast, they observed an incorrectly parked Hyundai Sonata taking up two spaces, and were approached by a witness who said there was a male inside the clinic who was displaying signs of intoxication.

Gold Coast psychologist Richard Moore, 44, of Gaven. Picture: PSYCoaching

The female witness told officers she witnessed the Hyundai leave the carpark with a young child in the vehicle, but that it returned shortly before police arrived.

Officers took up with Moore inside the clinic and required him to submit a specimen of breath, which returned a positive result.

He was taken to Coomera Police Station, the court heard, where he returned a reading of 0.181 per cent blood-alcohol content.

Moore’s defence lawyer tendered a number of character references for his client, and stressed his client’s prior good character, as well as a substantial body of volunteer work in the community.

Magistrate Louisa Pink said Moore was co-operative with police and entered an early plea of guilty, but marked him down for exposing the child in his vehicle to a substantial risk of injury or worse.

She fined him $1200 and disqualified him from driving for six months, noting he had already spent about six weeks off the road.

Moore will be required to install an interlock device and use it for a year after his disqualification ends.

Originally published as Richard Moore: Gold Coast psychologist fined, disqualified for high-range drink-driving