Full list: Toowoomba drink or drug drivers named after fronting court in June

From a young dad who claimed to be racing to help his pregnant girlfriend, to a defence worker who crashed into a car while almost four times the limit, here’s a list of Toowoomba drink or drug drivers who fronted court in June.

Drink or drug drivers taken off Toowoomba roads in June 2025. Picture: QPS.

Multiple Toowoomba drivers lost their licences this week after pleading guilty to a drink or drug driving charge before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

While many others fronted court on pending drink or drug driving charges, here’s a list of those who were sentenced.

Troy Gunders

Charge: Driving while meth and cannabis are present in one’s system

Troy Christopher Gunders was busted driving with meth and cannabis in his system when he was pulled over by police on Turner St at Helidon on February 23, 2025.

The chef turned tradie fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 18, and pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system.

The court heard it was the third time in the past five years that Gunders was caught drink or drug driving.

Gunders told the court he accepted the drugs were in his system, but said he didn’t know how the meth had been ingested into his system.

He said at the time of the offence he wasn’t in a good state of mind as his father had just passed away.

Gunders was fined $500 and was disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

Farrol Rogers

Charge: Driving under the influence of alcohol

Farrol Steven Lockie Rogers was caught high-range drink driving when he was pulled over by police while driving through Darling Heights on May 29.

He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 18.

The court heard the rig scaffolder had a blood alcohol reading of .170 – the same reading he blew when he was caught drink driving in 2016.

Rogers told the court he was sorry for making such a poor decision to drive.

He was fined $950 and disqualified from driving for seven months.

A conviction was recorded.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

Michael Thomas Hagan

Charge: Driving while under the influence of alcohol

When Michael Thomas Hagan was caught drink driving, he claimed to police he had only done so to help his girlfriend who was in the middle of labour.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving on a learner’s permit before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, June 30 after returning a blood alcohol reading of 0.046 in the early hours of May 18.

As a learner driver, Hagan was under zero alcohol restrictions while driving.

The court heard police intercepted Hagan when they noticed his headlights were off, despite the dark hour.

Hagan, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, told police he was driving because his pregnant girlfriend had called to let him know she was in labour.

Police later confirmed no ambulance was called and Hagan’s girlfriend was not in labour at the time of his offence.

Hagan was represented by solicitor Christiane Mullins who said the young man was celebrating his birthday that afternoon which had led to his drinking.

Ms Mullins asked the court to consider leniency as Hagan was now a father to a one-week-old baby and would need to travel to and from Toowoomba for work.

Hagan was fined $300 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

Rebecca-Lyn Wenham

Charge: Driving while under the influence of alcohol

Rebecca-Lyn Wenham was caught behind the wheel while more than two times over the legal limit.

Wenham pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, June 30.

The court heard police intercepted her after noticing her vehicle in the empty car park outside Club Glenvale in the early hours of Friday, June 20.

Wenham told police had consumed three to four glasses of wine during the night before returning a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.117, more than two times the legal limit.

“I’m strongly embarrassed by my actions and you will never see me in court again,” Wenham told the court.

She was fined $500 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for three months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Lachlan Wright

Charge: Driving while under the influence of alcohol

Lachlan Kingston Wright faced the consequences of ignoring his licence restrictions after a night of drinking.

The young driver pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, June 30.

The court heard he and his passengers were pulled over around 12.55am on June 14 when Wright was required to provide a roadside breath test.

Wright told police he had consumed one beer and three Canadian Clubs before getting behind the wheel.

He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.034, below the legal limit for open licence holders.

However, the court heard Wright was on a provisional licence at the time and therefore required to maintain a zero alcohol limit while on the roads.

Wright was fined $300 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for three months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Jesse Bateman

Charge: Driving with a relevant drug present in saliva

Jesse James Bateman was busted driving with drugs in his system when he was pulled over by police on May 10 in Toowoomba.

Bateman pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with a relevant drug present in his saliva before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, June 30 after returning a positive reading to a police drug test.

The court heard Bateman admitted to police he had recently used illicit drugs at the time of his offending.

“I work every day and I work very hard,” Bateman assured the court.

“It’s probably a once off, I don’t think I’ll be here (in court) again.”

Bateman was fined $350 and disqualified from driving and holding a licence for one month.

A conviction was not recorded.

Cooper Thompson

Charge: Driving under the influence of alcohol

Cooper William Thompson was caught driving almost four times the legal limit after crashing his car on the corner of Coonan St and the New England Highway at Harlaxton just after midnight on May 31, 2025.

The 22-year-old defence force worker pleaded guilty to driving under the influence before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 18.

Thompson, who had no criminal history, recorded a blood alcohol reading of .172, and told police he was on his way into town to drink with friends after having a few beers and a couple of Hard Solos.

The court heard Thompson’s car spun out of control before crashing into a stopped car at the intersection.

A woman was in the car, however she was not injured.

Solicitor Paige Hetherington told the court the incident was completely out of character, noting that at the time of the incident Thompson was drinking in excess following the breakdown of a relationship.

Ms Hetherington said the young man will be reprimanded by the defence force for his conduct, and submitted that no conviction be recorded given his career, age, remorse, the programs he underwent, and the damages he paid for.

Thompson was fined $900 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Full list: Toowoomba drink or drug drivers named after fronting court in June