Jeff Garlett, Kurt Gibbons, Andrew Noel Robertson: Albury Wodonga crime
After several beers and a few ‘puffs on a crack pipe” this lunatic decided to drive. Find out who made the list of the region’s dumbest DUIs.
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Driving under the influence of drugs or booze is one of the easiest ways to land yourself before a magistrate, and The Albury Wodonga News has compiled a list of some of the dumbest DUIs from across the region.
Kurt Gibbons
An arachnid has been blamed for a Talgarno man’s reckless driving after he was caught behind the wheel with two different drugs in his system.
Kurt Hunter Gibbons faced Albury Local Court, and pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug in his system.
The 48-year-old was pulled over by police after they witnessed his blue Mazda BT50 swerving onto the wrong side of the road while towing a trailer on East St at 5.04pm on October 17, 2020.
When police asked Gibbons about his driving he said: “A spider crawled across me.”
The father of two tested positive for both cocaine and THC cannabinoid in his oral fluid.
Gibbons told police he had consumed the drugs in a drink the night before and didn’t believe they would still be in his system.
Magistrate Richard Funston disqualified Gibbons from driving for three months and fined him $400 with a conviction.
Read the full story HERE.
Simon Douglas Brook
This Albury man thought it was a good idea to get behind the wheel boozed up and after several “puffs on the crack pipe”.
Simon Douglas Brook veered onto the wrong side of Wantigong Rd and crashed into a parked car before fleeing the scene.
However police then witnessed the man return in a taxi after realising he “f----- up”.
The 31-year-old faced Albury Local Court on Monday, March 16, and pleaded guilty to negligent driving, driving under the influence, and larceny, as well an unrelated possession charge.
Brook was sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order with supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined $800.
Read the full story HERE.
Andrew Noel Robertson
Police sergeant Andrew Noel Robertson pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving.
He faced Albury Local Court on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Court documents reveal the off-duty police officer was pulled over for a random breath test on McDonald Rd in Lavington just after midnight on February 28.
When the breath test showed a positive reading, Robertson was arrested and taken to Albury police station for further breath analysis where he returned a reading of 0.084.
Court documents reveal Robertson told officers he had six glasses of red wine between 7.30pm and 11.55pm and had snacked on food while drinking.
Robertson was sentenced to two years’ good behaviour with no conviction recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Josh Sweeney
An Albury man caught driving illegally twice in one week has narrowly escaped spending a year behind bars after being blasted in court for “thumbing his nose” at everyone.
Albury magistrate Richard Funston described Josh Beau Sweeney’s offending as “incredible” after he was picked up for the same offence twice in a week.
The 31-year-old faced Albury Local Court on Wednesday, and pleaded guilty to charges of driving with an illicit drug in his system second offence, two counts of driving while disqualified, and driving with a cancelled license.
Sweeney was picked up in a random breath test on April 1, 2020, before being caught driving under the influence of drugs just days later on April 9.
Magistrate Funston sentenced Sweeney to a 12-month Intensive Correction Order for driving while disqualified, on the condition that he abstain from drugs.
He was also sentenced to complete 150 hours of community service.
For the drug driving charge, Sweeney was given a $1000 fine.
Read the full story HERE.
Benjamin McKenzie
A woman and her two children were lucky to escape uninjured after a drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the family’s car.
Benjamin Ross Mackenzie faced Albury Local Court, and pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving after recording a blood alcohol reading of 0.180.
The 35-year-old father-of-two was driving on North St, Albury North about 5.10pm on November 2, 2020, when he drifted off and his car began to swerve onto the wrong side of the road.
A woman driving in the opposite direction, with her two children aged 11 and 14 in the car, tried to evade Mackenzie’s vehicle, but it clipped the front driver’s side door, causing the vehicle to spin 180 degrees and flip onto its side.
Magistrate Richard Funston sentenced Mackenzie to a 12-month community corrections order and disqualified him from driving for seven months, back dated to November 2.
Read the full story HERE.
Jay Newton
An Albury P-plater leapt over fences and ran through backyards trying to escape a random breath test.
Jay Newtown, 20, appeared before Albury Local Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to high range drink driving, driving while license suspended, possessing a prohibited drug, entering enclosed land without permission, and resisting arrest.
When Newton was pulled over by police on January 27, 2021, he exited his vehicle and ran off down the street, jumping over fences, and leaving his three passengers in the car.
Police were later called to a home where Newton was found standing at the back door of the premises repeating “I don’t have a weapon”.
Newton had a blood alcohol reading of 0.167.
Newton was disqualified from driving for six months, with an interlock for 24 months, and fined $1500.
Read the full story HERE.
Jeffrey Garlett
A former AFL player, who was caught five times above the legal bloody alcohol limit had only eaten chips and twisties, a court heard.
Jeffrey Garlett pleaded guilty to drink driving and told police he had downed at least 10 beers but only eaten “chips and Twisties”.
The former Melbourne and Carlton player appeared at Albury Local Court on March 1, 2021, charged with high-range drink driving.
Court documents reveal on November 15, 2020, at about midnight, police witnessed Garlett go straight through a red light on North St in Albury.
Police pulled Garlett over, asking when he had last had something to drink.
Garlett replied: “About 45 minutes ago, I’m over the limit.”
Police took Garlett to the police station to undergo a secondary breath test, where he recorded a reading of 0.241.
Garlett told police he had been drinking from 3 to 11pm.
“I had 10-12 schooners of Carlton Dry. I only ate chips and Twisties,” Garlett told police.
Garlett was sentenced to a 12-month Intensive Corrections Order with supervision, and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Read the full story HERE.
Alison Trethowan
A mum-of-five caught driving at more than six times over the legal blood alcohol limit in the middle of the day had driven through a park where children were playing.
Alison Maree Trethowan has faced Albury Local Court and pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving, negligent driving, and not give particulars to owner of damaged property.
Court documents reveal police responded to reports of a Mazda 2 being driven erratically on Squirrel Glider Driver, Thurgoona at 11.30am on November 15, 2020.
Another witness told police they had seen Trethowan drive through a park where children were playing.
She was later found parked at Charles Sturt University campus in Thurgoona.
Police stated Trethowan was slipping in and out of consciousness and had soiled herself.
Her initial blood alcohol reading was 0.320 with the official reading recorded as 0.267.
Trethowan was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.
She was disqualified from driving for six months, backdated to December 15, with an interlock for 24 months, and fined $500.
Read the full story HERE.
Stephen Gregory Spice
A Thurgoona nurse who rammed the back of a car a dozen times in a Macca’s drive-through has blamed Donald Trump for his tantrum.
Stephen Gregory Spice, 63, appeared at Albury Local Court on Monday, and pleaded guilty to knowingly drive motor vehicle in manner which menaces another person, negligent driving, and driving under the influence.
Court documents reveal Spice had sunk three glasses of wine at the Albury Commercial Club before heading into the nearby McDonald’s drive-thru about 1.30pm on January 7, where he rammed the car in front of him a dozen times.
Spice’s defence solicitor Piers Blomfield said his client suffered from PTSD from decades working as a nurse, and had gone to the Commercial Club after a disagreement with management at his work.
Mr Blomfield said Spice had been listening to US election on the radio while waiting in the drive-thru queue and became angered by Donald Trump, sparking his outburst.
Spice was sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order with no conviction.
Read the full story HERE.
Harley Matthews
A night out went terribly wrong for a Beechworth partygoer after he was kicked out of his hotel and then busted drink driving.
Harley Matthews, 26, faced Albury Local Court and pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving.
Court documents reveal police were alerted to a grey Toyota HiLux driving on the Princes Highway in Narooma after the ute sped off from Obriens Hotel with a loud gear change about 12.05am on February 27, 2021.
When the car pulled in at the BP service station, police pulled up beside it and saw there were three male passengers in the car as well as the driver — Matthews.
Matthews was taken to the police station where he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.163.
He admitted to consuming 10 Carlton Dry and Great Northern schooners between 1.30pm and 11.30pm on his birthday, February 26.
He told police he and his mates had been kicked out of the Bermagui Beach Hotel where they were staying, and intended to sleep on the beach before they headed out on a fishing charter the next day.
Matthews was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with supervision and a condition that he complete the traffic offenders program.
He was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $1000.
Read the full story HERE.
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