Serial disqualified driver Zach Coles-Seerden jailed again

After being sentenced in court, the Central Queensland father and soccer coach gave his partner a hug and then he was taken off to jail - again.

Soccer coach Zach Griffith Justin Coles-Seerden was jailed in Gladstone Magistrates Court for disqualified driving as a repeat offender. Generic image.

Serial disqualified driver Zach Griffith Justin Coles-Seerden gave his partner a hug and then he was off to jail - again.

The 30-year-old was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to disqualified driving (repeat offender), failing to properly dispose of a needle, possessing a knife in public, obstructing public, stealing and failing to appear in court.

The court heard the most concerning offence for Coles-Seerden, because it put him at risk of imprisonment, was the disqualified driving which happened on Gladstone’s Palm Drive on March 7, 2023.

That offence occurred while Coles-Seerden was on a suspended sentence for disqualified driving.

The court heard Coles-Seerden had six previous disqualified driving offences on his record since 2019, and he’d previously been given terms of imprisonment and served actual jail time for that offending.

The court was told after police pulled Coles-Seerden over on March 7 two years ago, he told them he was driving because he was “taking his mate to work.”

The stealing offence happened in March, 2024, at The Club Hotel Gladstone.

The female victim was playing poker machines when she left her machine with a “reserved” sign placed on it, to go outside for a break.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said Coles-Seerden sat down next to the woman’s machine and he put funds into his machine.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Ms Leach said after a couple of minutes, Coles-Seerden noticed there was “money” in the woman’s machine.

The prosecutor said he looked around to see if anyone was watching and then he selected the “collect” button on the woman’s machine.

Coles-Seerden then took the woman’s ticket which had a value of $160.04.

Then on September 8, 2024, police were conducting mobile patrols of the Gladstone CBD when they saw Coles-Seerden riding a bike with no helmet on.

Ms Leach said police tried to stop Coles-Seerden but he started riding in the opposite direction.

Police again told Coles-Seerden to stop but he said he wasn’t going to.

Then about 3.40am on January 1, police found Coles-Seerden in the carpark outside Gladstone’s Central Lane Hotel.

Ms Leach said he was argumentative with police and subject to a search which uncovered a folding knife concealed in his waistband.

She said police also found a bag in nearby bushes which belonged to Coles-Seerden - inside it was an uncapped syringe.

Coles-Seerden had an eight-page criminal history and a six-page traffic record.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said Coles-Seerden was a father who worked as a tyre fitter and he also volunteered as a soccer coach.

Mr Pepito said Coles-Seerden’s partner was in court to support him.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan activated the suspended sentence and sentenced Coles-Seerden to 15 months’ jail, fixing parole release at July 2, 2025.

Coles-Seerden was also disqualified from driving for two years and convictions were recorded.

After being sentenced, Coles-Seerden hugged his partner who had been sitting in the front row of the court gallery and then he was taken into custody.

Originally published as Serial disqualified driver Zach Coles-Seerden jailed again