Luke Thomas Hornabrook: Drink driver who damaged two cars at Tamborine Mountain spends birthday in court

After damaging two cars parked in a driveway at Tamborine Mountain, this drink driver spent the morning of his birthday dealing with the consequences of his actions. Read what the magistrate had to say.

Luke Thomas Hornabrook spent his birthday at Southport Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two driving charges. Picture: Alex Treacy

It’s a birthday that Luke Thomas Hornabrook is unlikely to forget.

The young driver spent the morning of his 22nd birthday before the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to one count of drive without due care and attention and one count of driving a motor vehicle over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high alcohol limit.

The court heard Hornabrook had been driving on Kinabalu Drive, Tamborine Mountain around 6pm on June 6, 2025 when he failed to maintain control his LandCruiser while trying to negotiate a right hand bend.

His car drove into a Ford Ranger parked in a driveway. The impact forced the Ranger into the back of a Hyundai also parked in the driveway.

Hornabrook reversed his car about 20 metres before becoming stuck in a ditch.

When police attended and detained Hornabrook at the scene, they noted a strong smell of liquor on him.

He submitted to a roadside breath test and further analysis returned at 0.124 Blood Alcohol Concentration reading.

His lawyer, Abby Hawkins from Donnelly Law Group, said her client had been at a pub with his friends prior to the drive and had consumed several beers.

She said Hornabrook failed to negotiate the right hand bend on the wet road but conceded alcohol played a part in that.

The court heard Hornabrook had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program and came before the court with no previous traffic history.

Ms Hawkins said her client, whose parents were in the courtroom, was extremely remorseful and very ashamed to be before the court.

She said he would not be able to drive to work due to the mandatory suspended sentences and would be unemployed as a result.

She also told the court her client left his details with the owners of the Hyundai and Land Cruiser but has not been contacted by anyone yet.

The court heard Hornabrook had hopes to take an engineering degree that he is currently completing overseas.

Ms Hawkins asked that a conviction not be recorded as it would hinder Hornabrook’s prospects in his chosen industry.

Magistrate Veena Goverdhan noted Hornabrook would still have to declare his conviction even if it was not recorded.

She told Hornabrook he could have been before the court for a more serious charge and he was lucky he didn’t hurt anyone.

She noted he was also lucky to have his parents in court to support him.

Ms Goverdhan took into account his early plea, completion of the traffic program and his non-existent traffic history.

Hornabrook was fined a total of $1,000 and was disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for three months.

After her sentence, Ms Goverdhan had one thing to say to Hornabrook.

“Happy birthday.”

A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Luke Thomas Hornabrook: Drink driver who damaged two cars at Tamborine Mountain spends birthday in court