Southport Magistrates Court wrap: Fraud, drink driving, drug possession and more
A Coast bar manager has been caught intoxicated behind the wheel - and it’s not the first time. He’s one of a string of drivers who faced court for similar offending.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Broadbeach bar manager has been caught drink driving for the second time in less than two years.
Liam James Agar-McCormack pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Thursday to driving while over the alcohol limit.
On February 4 at 2.20am police pulled Agar-McCormack’s car over on Casino Drive in Broadbeach and conducted a breath test.
He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.141.
The court heard it was the second time in the last two years Agar-McCormack was caught driving while intoxicated after recording a reading of 0.110 in his previous offence.
Magistrate John Costanzo fined Agar-McCormack $1200 and suspended him from driving for 12 months.
No conviction was recorded.
Timothy Dale Stack
A bricklayer who was causing a disturbance at a Gold Coast caravan park was caught with 13.5g of drugs.
Timothy Dale Stack pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Thursday to possessing dangerous drugs.
The court was told on February 6 at 2.40am police were called to the River Gardens Caravan Park in Carrara to deal with a man who was making a disturbance and was armed.
Police located cannabis on Stack in a glass jar being carried in his hoodie pocket, along with more in a bag.
It totalled to 13.5g.
Stack told the court he is a bricklayer but is currently unable to work dues to a shoulder injury.
Magistrate John Costanzo fined Stack $1000 and a conviction was recorded.
Cassandra Shellanne Rolfe
A lawyer drove home from a friend’s place in Brisbane four-times over the legal alcohol limit.
Police stopped Cassandra Shellanne Rolfe at 8.25pm on February 17 due to her driving behaviour in Palm Beach. She recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.217.
The Southport Magistrate Court was told on Thursday that Rolfe had a couple of wine shandies in Brisbane.
She is an admitted lawyer and worked in many government departments across her career.
Magistrate John Costanzo fined Rolfe $1900 and suspended her from driving for 12 months.
Harry J Miller
A Gold Coast teenager has been told to “wise up” after being caught driving with drugs in his system on Australia Day.
Harry J Miller pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Wednesday to driving while a drug is present in his system while holding a provisional licence and wilfully making unnecessary noise or smoke.
On January 26 the 18-year-old revved his Holden Commodore at an intersection at Wardoo Street in Southport at 1am.
A court heard police, who were also at the intersection, saw Miller lose control of his car and continued to slide from left to right down the street.
Officers intercepted Miller who was on his Ps and tested him for drugs.
He returned a positive test with cannabis in his system.
Magistrate Louisa Pink told Miller to “wise up” or risk losing his right to drive in the future.
fined Miller a combined $690 for the two charges and suspended him from driving for three months.
Michael Travis Donovan
A Gold Coast father bought cannabis illegally while waiting for his medicinal marijuanas prescription, a court has heard.
Michael Travis Donovan pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Wednesday to possessing dangerous drugs.
The 32-year-old was found with 14.25g of cannabis when police checked his car in Broadbeach Waters on February 5.
The drug was found in a backpack that was on the passenger seat of his car.
A court heard Donovan uses cannabis for medical reasons but told police he bought it illegally while waiting for his next prescription.
Magistrate Louisa Pink placed Donovan on a $400 good behaviour bond for four months.
No conviction was recorded.
Kellie Louise Elliotte
A mother with a long list of driving offences sent her keys to Toowoomba to stop herself from getting behind the wheel, a court has heard.
Kellie Louise Elliotte pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrate Court on Wednesday to driving without a licence.
The mother of a six-year-old was caught on January 18 at Ferry Rd in Southport driving a car when her demerit points had run out and her licence was suspended.
To stop herself doing it again, the stay-at-home mum said she had sent her car keys to her mother in Toowoomba.
Magistrate Louisa Pink said that Elliotte’s traffic offence history was 1½ pages in the past year alone.
Elliotte was fined $300 and disqualified from holding a driver's licence for six months.
John Matthew Jackson
A grandfather has been sentenced 20 years after stealing money from a vending machine to support a drug addiction.
John Matthew Jackson pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to fraud – dishonest application of property of another, stealing and wilful damage.
On July 19, 2002 Jackson stole $845 from a vending machine in a Stapylton complex.
He was employed as a subcontractor at a BP service station on Henley Esther Drive.
The money was used to pay for Jackson’s $100-150 a day addiction to methamphetamines.
The court was told the 52-year-old cleaned up his addiction in 2006 after learning his daughter was pregnant.
He moved to NSW to change his life but moved back to Queensland to live with his daughter and her partner when Covid hit.
He learnt about his charges when doing a police check and handed himself into police.
Because the business Jackson stole from no longer exists, Magistrate Louisa Pink placed him on a $500 good behaviour bond for six months. No conviction was recorded.
Lauren Mae Fryers
A woman who drove while two times the legal blood-alcohol limit has been handed a costly blow.
Lauren Mae Fryers was caught on February 12 in Biggera Waters. The 23-year-old blew 0.132 during a random breath test.
In Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Louisa Pink said Fryers was very close to the high alcohol limit of 0.150. She fined Fryers $550 and suspended her from driving for four months.
Fryers was ordered to pay for an alcohol ignition device for her vehicle when she returned to driving. No conviction was recorded.
According to Queensland Traffic Lawyers, the total estimated cost for an interlock device is $2000 over a 12-month period.
Police vow ‘review’ of ‘chilling’ crims, bikies & journalists policy
Queensland Police say it “will review” an internal directive adding journalists “incompatible with QPS values” to a declarable association policy including criminals. Read the latest
Shocking dashcam footage captures Southport crash
Wild dashcam footage has emerged after a shocking crash at one of the city’s most busy intersections. WATCH THE VIDEO