Hayden Robert Howarth: Unlicensed driver flipped car while more than three times over limit

An unlicensed Gold Coaster flipped his car, with a loved one as a passenger. Find out what happened in court.

Hayden Robert Howarth, 24.

AN unlicensed Gold Coast man was more than three times the legal alcohol limit when his car flipped with his girlfriend in the passenger seat.

Hayden Robert Howarth fronted Southport Magistrates Court on Monday, pleading guilty to unlicensed drink driving in Burleigh Waters last August.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Greg McKenzie said the crash occurred just before 11pm on August 5, after Howarth had been drinking at Treetops Tavern in Burleigh Waters.

Hayden Robert Howarth, 24, leaving court.

The court was told Howarth and his partner were travelling along Reedy Creek Rd when they almost smashed into an oncoming vehicle.

“Another unknown vehicle has been travelling east along Reedy Creek Rd, obeying road rules, (when) the defendant has taken the turn too wide and almost collided with (it),” Sen. Cons. McKenzie said.

“(Howarth) attempted to overcorrect the wide turn and subsequently rolled his vehicle, coming to rest on the passenger’s side.”

When police arrived, the driver “consistently denied” requests to have an ambulance called, telling the officers he’d only had six drinks throughout the evening.

Howarth changed his tune when he was detained after a roadside breath test returned a positive result, “immediately requesting” an ambulance take him to hospital, the court was told.

He was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital, where his blood was tested and returned a reading of 0.170.

Defence lawyer, Allanah Patron of Brooke Winter Solicitors, handed up two character references and a Queensland Traffic Offenders Program certificate for her client in court.

She said Howarth had no prior traffic history, and that he “was cooperative with police”, making “full admissions” to offending.

“He is remorseful,” the solicitor said.

“His girlfriend, who was in the vehicle with him at the time, is in court today to support him.”

Ms Patron said Howarth was “born and raised on the Gold Coast”, having completed Year 10 at Nerang State High School and currently working full-time for his dad.

Ms Patron said Howarth “was not intending to drive” that night, but stepped in when a “highly intoxicated friend” opted not to drive.

Magistrate Veena Goverdhan said both the driver and his partner should’ve known better, given how high Howarth’s reading was.

“You mentioned the defendant’s girlfriend is in this courtroom, I can’t help saying that she ought to have known better to stop him from driving,” the magistrate commented.

Magistrate Goverdhan said Howarth’s girlfriend was “endangering her life, his, and others” by letting him drive.

For unlicensed driving, Howarth was convicted, fined $450, and disqualified from driving for three months.

For driving under the influence, he was convicted, fined $1050, and disqualified for nine months.