Jake Hawkins: Canberra footy identity pleads guilty to drink driving

A prominent Canberra rugby league identity has been taken off the road for drink driving after a footy match in Goulburn.

Jake Darren Hawkins faced Queanbeyan Local Court on June 26, 2023.

A Canberra footy identity has been taken off the road after he was intercepted by police during a boozy ride home from a rugby league game.

Jake Darren Hawkins, 33, was driving along the Federal Hwy at Sutton about 9.40pm on May 13 following a rugby league game in Goulburn when he was stopped by the Goulburn Highway Patrol.

Agreed facts tendered to the court state the rugby league player – who previously lived at Manilla in the state’s New England region and now plays for Belconnen United – submitted to an RBT and returned a positive reading roadside.

Jake Darren Hawkins.

Hawkins, who now resides in Canberra, later returned a reading of 0.087 per cent.

Court documents state he told police he had five to six schooners of Carlton Dry full strength beer starting at 6.30pm and ending at 9.25pm.

Hawkins’ defence lawyer told the court the former truck driver and labourer was driving back from a footy match in Goulburn when he was pulled over.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to driving with middle range PCA and was fined $800.

He was also disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for three months with a conviction recorded.