Drink and drug drivers face Maryborough Magistrates Court

A learner driver mum busted drink driving then drug driving two weeks later and a man who drove into a ditch while drunk were among those who faced traffic court this week.

Stephanie Theresa James pleaded guilty to drink driving, drug driving, two counts of driving unsupervised as a learner driver, to counts of failing to display L plates and one count of contravening a requirement of police.

Several drink and drug drivers have faced court in Maryborough this week, including a mum who got busted drink and drug driving within the space of two weeks and a man who drove his car into a ditch while high range drink driving.

Here’s who faced Maryborough Magistrates Court.

Stephanie Theresa James

A learner driver and mum of three was busted drink driving and then drug driving within the space of two weeks, both times while driving unaccompanied.

Stephanie Theresa James, 50, pleaded guilty to drink driving, drug driving, two counts of driving unsupervised as a learner driver, to counts of failing to display L plates and one count of contravening a requirement of police.

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Police prosecutor Sergeant Sonia Edwards said that on August 18 about 7.30am police were conducting breath tests in Mayne St, Tiaro when they stopped James, who was behind the wheel of a Mazda 3.

She returned a reading of 0.067 and was unsupervised, despite having a learner licence.

James said she was aware she needed someone supervising her, but she was driving to work.

She did not have L plates attached to the vehicle at the time, Sergeant Edwards said.

Stephanie Theresa James pleaded pictured leaving Maryborough Magistrates Court.

On August 31, police set up a stationary intercept site at Mayne St in Tiaro, where James was stopped by police, Sergeant Edwards said.

She tested positive to a roadside drug test and admitted she had smoked cannabis the previous night, Sergeant Edwards said.

James said she was driving to work.

The court heard James was married with three adult children.

She was born in the United States and worked in the airline industry for 18 years.

James and her husband moved to Australia in 2018, the court heard and she had found work at a chemist.

Her employer was aware of the charges and supportive of her, the court was told.

The court was told she had been driving since she was 15 but never transferred to a Queensland licence when she moved to Australia.

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James then had to go through the process of getting a learners licence, the court was told.

The court was told James had been through a difficult time and had mental and physical challenges.

In relation to the drink driving charge, the court was told that James had taken a mixture of Wild Turkey, honey and lemon for a cough, as advised by her aunt who was a nurse.

The court heard James was not a regular cannabis user and it was the first time she had tried it to help with her back pain.

James had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders program, the court was told.

James was fined $1000 and ordered off the road for three month.

No conviction was recorded for the charge of contravening a direction.

Timothy Lawrence Kue-Sales

An apprentice carpenter who was busted drug driving three times in three months has lost his licence for three years.

Timothy Lawrence Kue-Sales, 28, pleaded guilty to three counts of drug driving, one count of driving without a licence and on count of contravening a direction or requirement of police.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sonia Edwards said that on June 26, 2023, about 5.52pm Kue-Sales, a provisional driver, was stopped on Alice St in Maryborough and returned a positive result to a drug test.

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Kue-Sales told police he had smoked cannabis the previous night.

On July 7, 2023, Kue-Sales was stopped by police about 6.45pm and returned a positive result to a drug test.

This time meth and cannabis were detected in his saliva and he was placed on an immediate suspension from driving.

On August 5, 2023, he was located driving on the Bruce Highway, Sergeant Edwards said.

Timothy Lawrence Kue-Sales pleaded guilty to three counts of drug driving, one count of driving without a licence and on count of contravening a direction or requirement of police.

He underwent a roadside drug test and again returned a positive reading for cannabis and meth.

Defence lawyer Travis George said Kue-Sales had gotten into “quite a lot of strife” as a young man, but there had been a significant gap in his criminal history in recent years, with the last entry being in 2018.

Kue-Sales came from a fairly indigent background and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He had been the victim of a significant assault and had been self-medicating, Mr George said.

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Mr George said Kue-Sales was a second-year carpentry apprentice and also worked as a handyman.

He had a partner who was supportive, Mr George said, but they had faced several family tragedies together in the past year.

Magistrate John Milburn said Kue-Sales had a substantial but dated criminal history and he had made great progress in the past five years.

“Thank you,” Kue-Sales said.

Mr Milburn said he had worked hard and overcome difficulties in his upbringing.

“People clearly rely upon you and your employer has taken you on as a mature aged apprentice,” he said.

Kue-Sales was ordered off the road for three years and fined $1500.

Convictions were recorded.

Paris Hawkins

After getting stuck in a ditch while drink driving, a Maryborough man left his keys, phone and wallet in the car before being found by police in a nearby paddock.

Paris Hawkins pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sonia Edwards said that on September 4, 2023, about 5.20pm, police were patrolling Ann St in Maryborough when they saw a black Mitsubishi Lancer in a ditch.

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The vehicle still had keys in the ignition and was unlocked.

Police collected a wallet and phone and secured the vehicle.

Sergeant Edwards said police located Hawkins walking in a nearby paddock visibly intoxicated.

He told the officers he didn’t crash the car but he was trying to carry out a U-turn when he ended up in the ditch.

Hawkins returned a blood alcohol content reading of 0.234.

Paris Hawkins pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

Sergeant Edwards said Hawkins had also been convicted of drink driving in 2021.

“This is a very high reading at a time when other people would be road users around the area,” she said.

The court heard Hawkins had faced tragedy in recent months when his nephew died by suicide.

At the time of his previous drink driving offence, his mother had died after he had been her carer for a number of years.

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But he accepted drinking was a “completely inappropriate way for him to deal with his grief” and he had made an appointment with a trauma counsellor.

Magistrate John Milburn said a lack of judgement had caused Hawkins to drive off the road.

He said it was encouraging to get a statement of remorse from Hawkins.

Hawkins was disqualified from driving from 12 months and fined $1100.

A conviction was recorded.

Peter Samuel Hecker

A motorcyclist busted with meth in his system while driving has lost his licence for six months.

Peter Samuel Hecker pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said that about 12.24pm on July 20, 2023, police stopped Hecker on a motorcycle.

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He had returned a negative breath test, but a positive roadside drug test.

Hecker said he hadn’t consumed any illicit drugs in the last seven days, but tested positive to meth.

He was fined $550 and was disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

Brendan John Lewis

Brendan John Lewis pleaded guilty to drug driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sonia Edwards said that Lewis was stopped for a drug test around 8.55am on August 22 at the Bruce Hwy, Maryborough West.

He returned a positive result for cannabis.

Magistrate John Milburn told Lewis the drug stays in a person’s system “for some time”.

“I of course urge you to discontinue your association with the drug, otherwise this may be an issue that you’ll find in the future,” he said.

Lewis was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Drink and drug drivers face Maryborough Magistrates Court