Darren Lee Letts granted bail after allegedly running over wife while drunk

An Ipswich dad has been released on bail after allegedly driving a car over his wife while “grossly affected” by alcohol.

An Ipswich dad has been released on bail after allegedly driving a car over his wife while “grossly affected” by alcohol.

Redbank Plains man Darren Lee Letts, 56, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 6 via video-link from custody on three charges: committing acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm, and dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Nanette Green said the Queensland Police Service objected to him being released on bail given the nature of what was alleged, the risk he posed to others, and he did not have a suitable address to go to.

“He’s deliberately run down the victim …,” she said.

Defence solicitor Matthew Fairclough said Letts’ daughter was “quite aware” of what was alleged to have happened on Sunday, July 3 but was supportive of him and would provide an address for him.

“The allegation that he has acted deliberately to run over anyone, his wife or any other person, is strenuously denied,” Mr Fairclough said.

Material tendered to the court stated Letts was “grossly affected” by alcohol at the time of the alleged offending, such that no attempt was made to question him.

Darren Lee Letts, 56.

Mr Fairclough said it was asserted Letts was told to leave the address and he was “grabbed” by a man who was at the residence and “thrown” onto a roadway.

“It’s in those circumstances that it seems, from the material, that he’s got into the vehicle and driven backwards, then driven forwards, then driven backwards again,” he said.

“It’s certainly a very long bow to draw to have this court form the view that … the alleged condition of his wife has been intended by him.”

Mr Fairclough said it was not suggested domestic violence was ever a factor in Letts’ relationship with his wife.

Magistrate David Shepherd raised that Letts had a history of alcohol abuse, to which Mr Fairclough said it certainly did not appear he had a “raging” problem.

The court heard Letts had been employed as a machine operator in Browns Plains for the past five years and suffered some acute mental health issues.

Mr Shepherd said that while releasing Letts did pose some risk, imposing strict conditions would reduce the risk to a level that was acceptable.

He granted Letts’ application for bail and remanded the matter back to Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 27.

Originally published as Darren Lee Letts granted bail after allegedly running over wife while drunk