James Dunstan hit with big fine for evading Gladstone police

A Central Queensland driver has copped a big fine after he had a “near miss” with an oncoming vehicle while trying to get away from police.

James Douglas Ivan Dunstan, 27, was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to evasion. Generic image.

A Central Queensland maintenance worker’s battles with meth have been laid bare during his sentencing for a serious driving offence.

James Douglas Ivan Dunstan, 27, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to evasion.

The court heard the offence happened in the Gladstone suburb of Telina on February 9.

It was told police were responding to an incident when they saw Dunstan drive from a driveway.

They activated lights and sirens and followed Dunstan for about 300m before he “accelerated away” and had a “near miss” with an oncoming vehicle, the court heard.

Dunstan’s criminal and traffic histories were both three pages and they included drug and dishonesty offending, as well as a dangerous operation of a motor vehicle offence.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Dunstan, born and raised in Gladstone, was a maintenance worker.

She said Dunstan had a prejudiced childhood and he was educated to Year 10.

“He has always been gainfully employed... in maintenance work roles,” Ms Wieland said.

The solicitor said Dunstan had suffered from mental health and drug (methamphetamine) issues and on the day of the evasion offence, he did not pull over for police because he was paranoid that he would go to jail.

Ms Wieland said Dunstan had engaged with a men’s support service, now had a mental health plan, and he’d been “clean” from drugs since April 16.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Dunstan $8065 and disqualified him from driving for two years.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as James Dunstan hit with big fine for evading Gladstone police