Full list of Western Downs drink or drug drivers sentenced at court
The latest Western Downs drivers who have been sentenced in court for drink or drug driving have been revealed.
Police & Courts
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From a man who was previously before the courts for driving a car at his sister and was then busted drug driving twice, to a travelling tattoo artist who tested positive for drugs on her way to work, these are the latest offenders who have been sentenced in a Western Downs court for drug driving.
See the full list.
Convictions recorded
A man who was previously sentenced in court for dangerous operation of vehicle when he drove a car at his sister was before the courts again for drug driving.
David Donald Lloyd Laurie appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on June 4 after being busted drug driving twice in the span of almost two weeks.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady said the 25-year-old made full admissions to having used drugs before getting behind the wheel when police randomly intercepted him on May 5 along Alfred St in Dalby.
The court was told Laurie was also pulled over for a drug test on Patrick St on May 19.
He tested positive for THC on both occasions.
He was also disqualified from driving for six months.
Magistrate Kyna Morice told the man while she could sentence him to jail she would not due to him being engaged with his probation officer.
“I’m not going to send you to jail today but I want you to understand how serious it is to commit these offences while on parole,” she said.
Laurie pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving.
He was fined a total of $1500 and disqualified from driving for 18 months total.
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A drunk driver who had to be hospitalised after swerving and hitting a tree has appeared in court.
Stephen John Hardy pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to high range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on March 19 police responded to a single-vehicle collision which landed the driver in hospital.
“The defendant was driving, he swerved to the side of the road and back before making contact with the tree causing extensive damage to the vehicle,” Mr Hutchins said.
“Ultimately he was sent to hospital and given a request for a specimen of blood, with a reading of 0.160.
“Obviously it’s not just a roadside breath test, it’s a matter he was so intoxicated it impaired his driving to the point he crashed.
“Yes there’s a large gap in some of the offending, his criminal history seems to be quite dated so it seems that he can go a period of time (without offending).”
Defence lawyer Michael Corbin said his client was struggling with mental health issues and was previously held in a mental health unit.
“He told me his sister passed away last month and he’s ongoing further grief and loss counselling in regards to that,” Mr Corbin said.
“He’s in the process for him to be put on the NDIS support process.
“He does have a formal diagnosis of schizophrenia.”
Magistrate Gary Finger said it was concerning the latest appearance was the defendant’s fourth time before court for this type of offending.
“You seem to be having a rough time at the moment, but this stuff isn’t the answer,” the magistrate said.
“And you can’t keep coming back here for drink driving, you understand that?”
Hardy was fined $900 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for six months.
A conviction was recorded.
Police found a raft of unlawful items in a man’s car after he was randomly intercepted and tested positive for drugs while driving.
Nathan Kenneth Weldon was pulled over by police conducting highway patrol on May 12 when driving on the Warrego Highway at Warra.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told Chinchilla Magistrates Court during the man’s plea on July 6 that police found a large knife with an axe head welded to the front, ammunition, scales related to drug use and a pipe for smoking during the search of the car.
“(Weldon) told police he used (the scales) to weigh his drugs so he knew he wasn’t being ripped off,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
The court was told the man also tested positive for meth.
Defence lawyer Brad Skuse told the court his client claimed to have the knife for hunting purposes and was used to remove the jaws of animals.
Magistrate Kyna Morice said the man, who is expecting his first child, needed to decide what was more important to him.
“You will lose your licence for more significant periods of time,” she said.
Weldon pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving, having a knife in public, possessing a pipe, possessing ammunition and possessing scales in relation to drug use.
He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for one month.
A man tested positive for two different drugs when he was randomly intercepted by Western Downs police on a suburban street earlier this year.
Jade Paul Kay appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on June 27 after he was busted drug driving on Sandalwood Ave at Dalby.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said there had been nothing about the man’s driving that caused concern for police, but had asked him to do a drug test in a random intercept on May 26.
The court was told the man tested positive to marijuana and meth.
“He does have one prior though so it will have to be a minimum of three months disqualification,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
Magistrate Kyna Morice reminded the man that if he continues to choose to use unlawful substances he’s going to be without a licence.
“You need to make a decision of what’s more important, using those drugs or having your licence?”
The man was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for three months.
A travelling tattoo artist was busted drug driving when police pulled her over while on the way to the Chinchilla studio.
Tishayne Enever Mcintosh-Drewes appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on June 4 after being randomly intercepted by police on Thorn St at Warra.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady said Western Downs police pulled the 27-year-old over on May 13 where she tested positive for THC.
Defence lawyer Michael McElhinney said his client who generally works at a tattoo shop in Toowoomba was on her way to Chinchilla when police pulled her vehicle over for a random drug test.
“She is on a prescription but I’ve explained the legal situations,” he said.
Mcintosh-Drewes pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving.
She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month, a conviction was recorded.
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A truck driver has landed back in court for a third time for drug driving with the magistrate warning next time he’ll be given a prison sentence.
Darren John Voll pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on April 8 police intercepted Voll relating to traffic matters when they observed his bizarre behaviour.
“He had slurred speech, police observed he had aggressive outbursts and strange hand movements and detained him and transported him to hospital for testing,” Mr Hutchins said.
“A blood sample was taken, showing methamphetamine and other substances in his blood.
“His history appears to be somewhat dated but has similar types of offences throughout his history.
“He’s on a period of probation for domestic violence matters.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger said this will be the last time Voll will be given a fine, with the magistrate warning next time it will be a term of imprisonment.
“What have you got to say for yourself?
“It’s the third time you’ve been here before the court for driving with drugs in your system.”
Voll simply said it was a “weak moment” and that he had “nothing more to say.”
He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.
A conviction was recorded.
No conviction recorded
A woman was busted by police not only driving down a long regional street with alcohol in her system but told cops when she was pulled over that she didn’t have a licence.
Kelly Marie Sadik appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on July 25 after she was pulled over by Western Downs police driving along Chinchilla-Tara Rd in Tara.
Police prosecutor Anita Page told the court on May 31 the woman who was driving with Victorian registered plates was asked to produce her licence for a check before she admitted to “never” having a licence.
“Police checks confirmed she had never obtained a licence, and she was asked to supply specimen of breath,” Ms Page said.
Sadik presented a reading of 0.036 and was detained for further testing.
She pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and drink driving.
The woman was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for a total of six months. No conviction was recorded.
A Western Downs woman copped her consequences on the chin after she made admissions in court to taking drugs before getting behind the wheel.
Natasha Louise Grace appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on August 1 after she was intercepted by police for a random roadside drug test.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the mother-of-three was pulled over on Dalby-Jandowae Rd in Jandowae when she tested positive for cannabis.
The woman told the court since she had been busted she’s given him taking drugs and started seeing a counsellor.
“I did the wrong thing so it’s my consequences isn’t it,” she said.
Grace pleaded guilty to drug driving.
She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month, no conviction was recorded.
State of Origin night proved to be an eventful one for one regional Queensland man as he was caught by police drink driving after the footy match.
Andrew Henry Todd appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on July 25 after he was pulled over and asked to supply a specimen of breath while attempting to drive back home to the outskirts of Roma.
Police prosecutor Anita Page said on June 1 Ipswich police were on patrol and pulled the 60-year-old man over for a random breath test.
“He made admissions to recent alcohol consumption and consumed an unknown quantity the previous evening,” Ms Page said.
The court was told the man presented a reading of 0.063.
Defence lawyer Raymond Everest said his client had a job in Roma and went to watch State of Origin before consuming a number of beers.
“He walked back to the van to sleep there and woke up the next morning, waited another hour because he didn’t feel right before attempting to drive home,” Mr Everest said.
Todd pleaded guilty to drink driving.
He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month, no conviction was recorded.
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A probationary licence holder and father-of-two caught drug driving has landed in court again for his offending behind the wheel.
Brendan Smilie pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on May 31 police highway patrol intercepted Smilie for a drug test on the Warrego Highway, Chinchilla.
The court was told Smilie tested positive for cannabis.
“It’s certainly not the best criminal history, but I don’t think that will overly impact the penalty today,” Mr Hutchins said.
“He does have priors.”
Smilie was self-represented in court and said he had no reason for his behaviour.
“Shouldn’t have been driving, no excuses,” the defendant said.
Acting magistrate Lisa O’Neill fined him $600 and disqualified him from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
•
A 19-year-old aged care worker fronted court after being spotted behind the wheel with drugs in her system.
Rachelle Judyanne Mackey pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutcins said on May 31 Mackey was intercepted by police on Glasson St, Chinchilla for a drug test.
The court was told the P-plater tested positive for cannabis.
“I had been drinking the weekend prior, it was a Tuesday I got pulled over and it was the Friday and Saturday I had been drunk and smoked a little bit with some friends and I thought by that time it would be out of my system,” Mackey said.
Acting magistrate Lisa O’Neill said this experience has been a “wake up call” for the defendant about how drugs can stay in your body for many days after ingestion.
Mackey was handed a $400 fine referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
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A 22-year-old oil and gas worker has landed in court after police caught him drug driving and found dangerous drugs in his car.
Kasper Phoenix Fisher pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving and possessing a dangerous drug.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Fisher was intercepted for a drug test on the Warrego Highway, Warra when police located a “small amount of drugs” in his car.
Drug tests revealed Fisher was positive for cannabis and he was transported to the police station where he was issued with a notice to appear in court.
Acting magistrate Lisa O’Neill handed him a $600 fine, ordered to be paid within three months, and was disqualified from driving for one month.
No conviction was recorded.
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A family daycare provider who landed in court for drink driving has pleaded with the magistrate to not record a conviction, worried it would jeopardise her blue card.
Sonia Leanne Townson pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on July 15 police intercepted Townson for a random breath test in Chinchilla.
The court was told Townson tested positive with a reading of 0.094.
“There’s no previous history apart from speeding tickets,” Mr Hutchins said.
“She has a relatively good history. I’d lean towards the lower suspension period.”
Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said his client, who works as a family daycare provider, went for a drive to get some food after she fell asleep.
“She instructs on this particular occasion she had been consuming alcohol, stopped drinking and went to bed and had a sleep,” Mr Skuse said.
“She woke up shortly prior and was hungry and unfortunately thought she was okay to drive.
“Whilst this is still a traffic matter your honour, she has concerns that any conviction may impact her continuation of that particular blue card.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger fined Townson $600 and disqualified her from driving for one month.
No conviction was recorded.
•
A 20-year-old man caught on two separate occasions, one for having a stolen mobile phone and another for drug driving, has fronted court again after a two year hiatus.
Wilfred Charles Wortley pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drug driving and receiving tainted property.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on May 7 at about 3.30am police in Rockhampton caught Wortley with tainted property, namely a mobile phone he said he received from his sister.
Further on June 8 Wortley, who was a probationary licence holder, was intercepted on Murilla St, Miles for a drug test which came back positive.
“Hes a young man with relatively no history, a fine is still appropriate at this stage,” Mr Hutchins said.
Defence lawyer Michael Corbin said his client only has one other matter on his criminal record dating back two years ago.
“He’s intending to return to Mackay to commence a course in road traffic work,” he said.
“He tells me he had been using some cannabis, and I explained to him that some cannabis is laced with methamphetamine and that’s particularly dangerous.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger fined him a total of $1000 for both offences and disqualified him from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Full list of Western Downs drink or drug drivers sentenced at court
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