AFL Canberra player Logan Gray nabbed for drink driving

A court has heard a prominent member of the ACT’s AFL community did not realise his licence was suspended, or that he was over the limit, when he was nabbed by police

Logan Gray leaves the ACT Law Courts after he was sentenced for level 3 drink driving, driving while suspended and driving through a red light. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

A prominent figure in Canberra’s AFL Community didn’t know his licence was suspended when he was caught running a red light over the limit, a court has heard.

Logan Gray, 24, a carpentry apprentice and active member of Tuggeranong’s AFL community, was caught running a red light at the intersection of Cooyong and Batman Streets, Braddon, at 5.49pm on September 18 last year.

Court documents state Gray pulled over on Ainslie Avenue after police activated their sirens.

Officers observed Gray’s speech to be slurred, and he was taken to City Police station for a blood alcohol test.

Logan Gray leaves the ACT Law Courts after he was sentenced for level 3 drink driving, driving while suspended and driving through a red light. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Gray returned a reading of 0.107 which is within the range of level three drink driving.

He told police he had consumed four beers at a Braddon bar from 3pm that day, and said he thought he was under the limit.

Additionally, police said Gray’s licence had been suspended since July 14 2022.

When Gray appeared for sentencing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to drink driving, driving while suspended and driving through a red light, his lawyer told the court Gray was unaware his licence had been suspended.

A layer for Logan Gray (pictured) said his client didn’t know his licence had been suspended Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The lawyer said his client failed to pay a fine because he did not receive a notice of the fine in the mail as he was moving home at the time.

However the lawyer said Gray accepted full responsibility for his actions.

His lawyer told the court the actions that landed Gray in court were “out of character” and said he had no criminal history.

He said Gray was an apprentice carpenter and had been described by his employer as a “mentor of sorts” to other apprentices.

The court also received glowing character references from Gray’s football club in Tuggeranong.

Gray’s lawyer also told the court his client’s partner was pregnant, due to give birth to their first child in April.

He said Gray was concerned a lengthy disqualification period could stop him from being a supportive partner, and feared not being able to drive his partner to hospital for appointments or emergencies.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston noted Gray pleaded guilty early and that he stopped the car when prompted by police.

He also noted Gray had already served 90 days of an instant licence suspension.

“Drink driving is serious,” Mr Theakston said.

He sentenced Gray to a six-month good behaviour order and gave him a four month disqualification period, backdated to September, giving him roughly one more month without the ability to drive.

Mr Theakston also fined Gray $500.