Aland James Weston jailed for repeated disqualified driving

A man disqualified for two years zip-tied stolen number plates to his car to drive to a funeral home after his dad died. But his repeated disregard of court orders got him actual jail time.

A Mackay man has followed “the quickest way to jail in Queensland” after being caught driving while disqualified by a court order.

Aland James Weston must serve a month of actual jail time with the remainder hanging over his head in what Magistrate James Morton said would act as a deterrent to the repeat offender.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard police patrols found a car at a Kippen St home in South Mackay on December 7, 2021.

Checks found stolen number plates had been zip-tied over the vehicle’s legitimate plates, and Weston had been in the home for about 10 minutes.

Sergeant Emma Myors told the court Weston said his father had passed away and he had driven from the funeral home.

Aland James Weston, outside Bowen Magistrates Court, was jailed for to six months jail, to serve one month, with the remainder to hang over his head for 15 months, after repeated driving while disqualified by a court order. Picture: Tara Miko

She said checks found Weston’s licence was court-order disqualified on February 17, 2021, for two years.

Duty solicitor Peta Vernon said Weston, 28, was a roofer by trade but had been caring for his sick father who had died from chronic pulmonary disease.

After his death, Weston had moved to Bowen searching for work and had been employed as a roofer until a dispute with his employer last week, but was looking into seasonal work at a tomato farm.

She said Weston accepted his traffic history that included four disqualified driving entries, conceding it was aggravating circumstances to the disqualified drive charge before the court.

Weston pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified by a court, and driving a car with stolen number plate attached.

Aland James Weston outside Bowen Magistrates Court. Picture: Tara Miko

Mr Morton told Weston the quickest way to jail in Queensland was through disqualified driving and, while offering his condolences to the 28 year old’s family, said driving was not an option for him.

He said Weston was sentenced in 2021 for disqualified driving, drug-driving and unlicensed driving, and an intensive correction order handed down in Mackay last year was “no deterrent” to him.

Mr Morton sentenced Weston to six months jail, to serve one month, with the remainder to hang over his head for 15 months.

His licence was disqualified for two years and for the stolen number plates, Weston was convicted but not further punished.

Originally published as Aland James Weston jailed for repeated disqualified driving