NAMED: 8 drug and drink-drivers who were sentenced in Mackay Magistrates Court

From a miner ‘rolling the dice’ to a father drug-driving with his child in the car, here’s who made the list.

Samuel James Slater (left) faced Mackay Magistrates Court on May 19, 2021 and Adam Bruce Clulow faced Mackay Magistrates Court on May 17, 2021.

Naughty miner

A mining operator said he was in a negative headspace after splitting from his partner when police found him drug-driving in Moranbah.

Samuel James Slater faced Mackay Magistrates Court on May 19 after he was caught driving with methylamphetamine in his system along Mills Ave, Moranbah at 9.21pm on March 12.

Acting magistrate Leanne Scoines said the father-of-two was “rolling the dice” risking his livelihood with what was “completely unacceptable conduct”.

Ms Scoines fined the 29 year old, who pleaded guilty to driving with a relevant drug in his saliva, $500 and disqualified his licence for one month.

No conviction was recorded.

Stashed drugs

When police roadside tested Timothy Scott Callinan at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, they uncovered more than just drug-driving.

Prosecutor Rob Beamish said police found 2.872g of marijuana, less than 1g of methylamphetamine, two glass pipes and a cone in the Mackay father’s Mazda on March 20.

The court on Wednesday, May 19 heard Callinan was detained with his saliva returning positive results for the two illegal drugs.

Defence solicitor Marcus Hahn, of McKays Solicitors, asked for his client to be allowed a restricted licence for his work as a principal at an established Mackay business.

Callinan pleaded guilty to all charges.

Ms Scoines fined him $500, placed him on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered he attend a drug diversion program.

He must also use a logbook 24/7.

No conviction was recorded.

Too much vodka

A student was reminded in court she would have no future as a sonographer if she kept up her life-threatening behaviour.

Emma Rae Archibald pleaded guilty on Tuesday, May 18 to mid-range drink-driving following a night of vodka shots.

The court heard she had 0.131 blood alcohol concentration.

Ms Scoines told her the community had “well and truly had enough” of drink-drivers which were a major killer on Queensland roads.

She fined Archibald $700 and ordered her licence be disqualified for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

Sunday beers

A Mackay father blew more than twice the blood-alcohol limit after a late Sunday lunch and beers at Langford Hotel.

Prosecutor Harry Coburn said police intercepted Nicholas David Gorrie on Wood Street in Mackay’s CBD at 6pm on April 16 where he had a 0.115 BAC.

The court heard Gorrie told police he only had three to four beers but Mr Coburn said the reading proved this was “highly unlikely”.

He asked Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan to impose a substantial fine considering he had two previous drink-driving charges.

Defence solicitor Andrew Wiseman said a licence disqualification would be “beyond absolutely necessary”.

Mr Wiseman said Gorrie at the time had depression after tearing his elbow tendon leading to financial strain.

“He’s obviously devastated … he’s learned a valuable lesson,” Mr Wiseman said.

Ms Hartigan said she took Gorrie’s early guilty plea into account and character references, disqualifying his licence for the minimum mandatory period of six months.

He was also fined $1000 and a conviction was recorded.

“Substantial” history

A Mackay man had a “cocktail of drugs” in his system when he drove with a 12-year-old girl in the car along Shakespeare Street during the afternoon on March 5.

Adam Bruce Clulow faced court on May 17 on what was his third drug-driving offence in three years.

Ms Hartigan fined the single parent, who pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of a relevant drug, $900 plus disqualified his licence for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

 

P-plater

Mr Coburn said Reece Anthony Banks was on his probationary licence when police roadside drug-tested him on March 19.

The P-plater faced court on May 17 after testing positive to methylamphetamine.

Ms Hartigan said she took his early guilty plea into account and disqualified his licence for three months, fining him $300.

No conviction was recorded.

Duo drugs

The court heard John Howard Nielson tested positive for methylamphetamine and marijuana after driving along Bridge Road on March 12.

Mr Coburn on Monday, May 17, said Nielson also had prior drug-driving charges in his traffic history.

Ms Hartigan fined him $350, disqualified his licence for one month and recorded a conviction.

More stories:

Student drink-drives more than three times over BAC limit

Family tragedy triggers Mackay, Rockhampton crime spree

Noon denial

Mr Coburn said Mackay police intercepted a single mother along Glenpark Street around noon on March 19.

He said Michaela Maree Hayes tested positive for marijuana and methylamphetamine despite her denying she had taken meth.

Ms Hartigan, in sentencing Hayes on Monday, May 17 said the minimum one-month disqualification would be unjust considering her history.

She instead fined her $500 and disqualified her licence for three months.

A conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as NAMED: 8 drug and drink-drivers who were sentenced in Mackay Magistrates Court