Drink drivers, drugs and fraud sentences from Southport Magistrates Court

A Gold Coast drink driver who caused thousands of dollars damage when he crashed his car offered up a novel excuse in court.

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Scott Fletcher

A Gold Coast mother was sentenced over four charges in the Southport Magistrates Court.

It follows a man who had two drink-driving offences in a year, a woman keen to get to the beach after a couple of wines and a teenager who didn’t know he had lost his licence.

Casey Elizabeth Jones

A pregnant mother has escaped jail time after pleading guilty to five charges, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and obstructing police.

The Southport Magistrate Court was told on Wednesday that Casey Elizabeth Jones was found to be living in a stolen vehicle on August 19 last year.

The car had false licence plates attached with cable ties.

A black bag inside the car had a glass pipe that looked to be used for drugs.

The court was told Jones told police she had lived in the car for weeks.

The car was stolen in April 2021, which Jones was unaware of.

On September 16 last year at 3.35pm Jones was screaming in Orchard Ave in Surfers Paradise while intoxicated.

When police went to arrest her, Jones pushed past them and later scratched officers when being handcuffed.

Jones is a single mother with two children and is 30 weeks pregnant with her third.

Magistrate John McInnes sentenced Jones to five months’ jail, suspended for nine months.

Daniel Jack Macpherson

Daniel Jack Macpherson pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Tuesday to driving under the influence. Picture: Facebook

A man who had recently lost his driver’s licence for eight months is again off the road.

Daniel Jack Macpherson was caught drink-driving in Ormeau on February 16. He recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.153

The Southport Magistrate Court heard on Tuesday that Macpherson had only recently gained his licence after a similar offence.

Last time he was suspended from driving for eight months and fined $1000.

This time, Magistrate John McInnes fined Macpherson $1200 and suspended him from driving for nine months.

Jet Jasper Hirst

A teenager says he didn’t know he was suspended from driving for another two months when he was pulled over in Miami on January 7.

Jet Jasper Hirst had run out of demerit points.

Now he has lost his licence for another six months.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that the 18-year-old was asked by police why he was driving. He was suspended from driving on December 14 last year until March 13 this year.

Hirst said he wasn’t aware and had recently changed address.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Hirst $300 and suspended him for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

Bianca Kathleen Annmari Hume

A Gold Coast woman will struggle to work her two jobs after being caught drink driving, a court was told.

Police stopped Bianca Kathleen Annmari Hume in Broadbeach on February 25.

She recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.111.

Hume, 35, told the Southport Magistrate Court on Tuesday that losing her licence would affect her career.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Hume $600 and suspended her from driving for four months.

No conviction was recorded.

Cobie Shane Ford

Cobie Shane Ford pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on March 7, 2022 to fraud and unlawful use of a vehicle. Picture: Facebook

A homeless teenager stole a man’s wallet and $165 from his credit card to buy alcohol, a court has heard. 

Cobie Shane Ford pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrate Court on Monday to fraud and unlawful use of a vehicle.

A court was told the 19-year-old broke into a car in Ashmore on May 8 last year and stole a wallet.

The next day he used a card from the wallet to make a $105 transaction at Nerang BWS and another $60 transaction at the same place later that day. 

Ford and his father – who supported him in the courtroom – are both homeless, a court heard.

Ford is hoping to become a diesel mechanic to support his family.

Magistrate John McInnes gave Ford a $200 good behaviour bond for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

Daisy Loosmore

Daisy Loosmore pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on March 7, 2022 to driving under the influence. Picture: Facebook

A house manager who drifted across lanes while driving was three-times over the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Police stopped Daisy Loosmore in Arundel on February 5 due to her driving behaviour. She recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.172.

The Southport Magistrate Court was told on Monday that the 33-year-old was under personal stress after the loss of someone close. She is a house manager at a private Gold Coast residence.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Loosmore $900 and suspended her from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

Jeremy James Donovan

A man is hoping to gain employment to break his drug habits after being found guilty of possessing methamphetamines, a court was told.

Jeremy James Donovan was caught with a small bag of the drug in his sock for his personal use on January 22.

The Southport Magistrate Court heard on Monday that Donovan was diagnosed with bipolar in 2007 and receives the disability support pension.

The 41-year-old works for his father’s company but is looking for employment to keep him occupied and away from drugs.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Donovan $300. No conviction was recorded.

Andrew James Howarth

A man who ran from police through private property was caught with drugs, a court has heard.

Andrew James Howarth was caught with methamphetamines on January 14, 2020 in Nerang.

The Southport Magistrate Court was told on Monday that Howarth, 45, led police on a wild chase after fleeing from his car and running through a front yard and down the side of a house.

The resident, who did not know Howarth, yelled for police to remove the man.

Howarth’s bag had 0.5g of methamphetamines.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Howarth $400. No conviction was recorded.

Henry Sean Belding

A FIFO worker was caught drink-driving while away for his job in the mines.

Henry Sean Belding was caught after drinking at the Chinchilla Hotel and racing to his accommodation to get ready to come home to the Gold Coast, a court was told.

He blew 0.169 during a random breath test.

BAR MANAGER CAUGHT DRINK DRIVING FOR SECOND TIME

The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Monday that Belding worked three weeks on, one week off in the mines and was concerned the offence would cost him his “lucrative” deal.

Magistrate John McInnes fined Belding $1100 and suspended him from driving for six months. No conviction was recorded.