Lowood dad Andrew George Brocket jailed for chasing children during terrifying drunk drive

A repeat drunk driver forced strangers’ children to flee for their lives as he chased them down footpaths, revving his engine while more than five times the legal alcohol limit.

A repeat drunk driver forced children to flee in fear as he chased them down footpaths, revving his engine and over five times the legal alcohol limit, a court has heard.

A Lowood dad has been jailed after a court heard the terrifying details of how he deliberately drove towards strangers’ children in the street while five times the legal alcohol limit.

Father-of-three Anthony George Brocket, 40, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on July 19, 2023, to dangerous operation of a vehicle and adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, driving under the influence of liquor, driving while his licence was disqualified, public nuisance and obstructing police.

The court heard Brocket had driven around Lowood with a blood-alcohol content of 0.254 per cent on February 9 this year.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said Brocket had driven towards children in the street, who were unknown to him.

The children were forced to run down the footpath as Brocket chased after them and revved his engine at them, Mr Schubert said.

The court heard the children called and messaged their parents, telling them they thought a man was trying to run them over.

Mr Schubert said Brocket responded by “abusing” the children and continued driving after them.

“Your behaviour was atrocious and highly dangerous,” Mr Schubert said.

The court heard Brocket had still been on a suspended sentence at the time for a previous alcohol-fuelled dangerous operation of a vehicle offence, for which his licence had been disqualified by a court order.

Mr Schubert noted Brocket had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for that offence, wholly suspended for two years.

He said that was just the most recent offence in Brocket’s seven-page traffic history.

Brocket submitted a letter to the court acknowledging his mental health difficulties following the breakdown of his 10-year relationship with the mother of his children.

The court heard he had started drinking more and more as his marriage deteriorated, and his mental health “crashed” as a result.

Defence lawyer Shannon Chen said these issues had played a role in her client’s “outrageous behaviour”.

“It’s appalling, it’s dangerous. He could have killed someone – if not himself,” she said.

“He is now able to see the flaw of his behaviour.”

Ms Chen said Brocket had made a “great effort” in the months since the offending to address his drug and alcohol issues.

She said Brocket has enrolled in DrugARM and was intent on demonstrating to his children how to take ownership of their mistakes to become a better person.

Mr Schubert acknowledged Brocket had made significant rehabilitation efforts.

However, he said a sentence of actual imprisonment was necessary, as it was “very clear” that the previous suspended sentence hadn’t effectively protected the community.

Brocket received a head sentence of 12 months imprisonment, which was cumulative to his previous sentence.

He will be released on parole on October 18 this year, with 54 days presentence custody taken into account.

He was further disqualified from driving for 12 months for the dangerous operation, 15 months for the DUI, and two years for the disqualified driving.

Originally published as Lowood dad Andrew George Brocket jailed for chasing children during terrifying drunk drive