Bailey James Stacpoole in court after Yeppoon car crash

A teenage P-plater has paid a hefty price for crashing his girlfriend’s car in a Central Queensland residential area late at night.

Bailey James Stacpoole faced Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 7.

There was “extensive damage” after a Central Queensland teenage driver swerved onto the wrong side of the road late at night and crashed into another vehicle, a court has heard.

Bailey James Stacpoole, 18, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 7 to driving without due care and attention, not having P-plates displayed correctly, and drink-driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said about 11.14pm on September 9, Stacpoole was driving on Ross Street, Yeppoon, which is a residential area with a speed limit of 50kmh.

Sgt Dalton said Stacpoole swerved about 10m onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a parked vehicle, pushing it about 5m down the street.

The prosecutor said the parked vehicle was extensively damaged and undriveable as a result.

Sgt Dalton said Stacpoole told police that he had swerved to avoid a cat.

Bailey James Stacpoole.

Police saw that Stacpoole did not have P-plates attached to the vehicle as required.

After being breath tested, Stacpoole returned a reading of .128.

He was taken to Yeppoon Hospital after the crash.

The court heard that Stacpoole had no prior offending of this sort on his traffic history.

Solicitor Myles Heath said Stacpoole worked as a tyre fitter for a Yeppoon business.

“He had borrowed the car from his girlfriend on that evening,” Mr Heath said.

“He further instructs that it was a cat or a small dog that he’d swerved to avoid - he appreciates that was not the most appropriate manoeuvre.

“He’s a very young man ... he’s got very good prospects of rehabilitation, he doesn’t want to come back before the court, he told me that.”

Acting Magistrate Michael Bice told Stacpoole his .128 blood alcohol content would have contributed to the crash.

“You ended up in hospital so I hope you’ve learnt from that,” Mr Bice said.

Mr Bice fined Stacpoole $1616 and disqualified him from driving for six months.

He also told Stacpoole that because of his drink-driving reading, when he did get his driver’s licence back, he would be subject to interlock conditions which would cost him about $1200.

Originally published as Bailey James Stacpoole in court after Yeppoon car crash