Ingham court: Five plead guilty to drink- or drug-driving

A man and a woman charged with driving while meth was in their systems were among five defendants to be sentenced for drug or drink driving.

A man and a woman charged with driving with the dangerous drug meth in their systems were among a total of five defendants to plead guilty in the same North Queensland court to drug or drink driving.

P-plate driver Abbey-Rose Kelley pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to driving with meth in her system on Halifax Rd, Cordelia, at 1.30pm on August 27.

Kelley, who was self-represented, was convicted, fined $200 and disqualified from driving from the minimum-mandatory three-month period.

“You must not drive before then,” Magistrate Cathy McLennan told the defendant, “otherwise the minimum-disqualification period will be two years – and that if life-changing.”

Clint Victor Alaban, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to the charge of driving with methylamphetamine, known as meth or Ice, in his system. Picture: Cameron Bates

Clint Alaban

Clint Victor Alaban, who was unemployed, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates to the charge of driving with methylamphetamine, known as meth or ice, in his system.

Prosecutor Luay Allawy said Alaban told police when he was pulled over that he used cannabis but not meth, although the saliva test revealed the presence of ice and not marijuana.

He was convicted, fined $350 and disqualified from driving for two months, taking into consideration the drug was meth.

Nathan Emanuel Venardos pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to driving with cannabis in his system when he was stopped in a random police stop on Victoria Mill Road at 2.20am on October 15. Picture: Cameron Bates

Nathan Venardos

Nathan Emanuel Venardos pleaded guilty to driving with cannabis in his system when he was stopped in a random police stop on Victoria Mill Road at 2.20am on October 15.

Venardos, who has a previous drink-drive conviction from 2020, told Magistrate McLennan that he made a “bad choice”.

“The day before I was on an RDO (rostered day off) and I actually thought I had another day of RDO but I stuffed up and I’d like to say sorry,” he said.

“I’ve only just got a job again after losing my licence the first time, so everyone’s been kicking me.”

Venardos was convicted, fined $400 and disqualified from the minimum-mandatory three-month period.

The Ingham Magistrates Court. Picture: Cameron Bates

Brayden Blair

Brayden James Blair, 26, pleaded guilty to the sole charge of drug-driving with cannabis in his system on Cartwright Street, Ingham, on September 28.

The unemployed man, who has no previous traffic or criminal convictions, was convicted of the traffic offence, fined $350 and disqualified from driving for the minimum-mandatory one-month period.

Trevor Paul Kain, 64, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to the sole charge of drink-driving over the general-alcohol limit on Cooks Lane, Cordelia, on October 31. Picture: Cameron Bates

Drink driving

Trevor Kain

Trevor Paul Kain, 64, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to the sole charge of drink-driving over the general-alcohol limit on Cooks Lane, Cordelia, on October 31.

“Police discovered that the defendant’s car had run off the road into a cane field, the defendant wasn’t at the scene, so the police called his mobile, the defendant was cooperative and allowed police to catch up with him,” he said.

“He made admissions to drinking about 10 mid-strength beers between 6pm and 10pm the previous evening.”

Mr Kain, who was self-represented, said the incident came at a low point in his life after he had been diagnosed with cancer and had just completed radiation treatment.

He said he had drunk too much the previous evening and knew he shouldn’t have driven that morning.

“I apologise to the court and to the public for driving that morning.”

Mr Kain was convicted, fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Originally published as Ingham court: Five plead guilty to drink- or drug-driving