Motorists in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for drink, drug driving

A man diagnosed with lung cancer, a miner, painter, heavy rigid licence holder and property manager are among the drivers who have fronted court at Rockhampton recently. DETAILS.

From a miner to local business people, here’s a list of those who have fronted Rockhampton Magistrates Court in February and March for drink or drug driving.

Dale Thomas McCorkell, 24, had methamphetamines and marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving along Yeppoon Road, Parkhurst, on December 8 at 4.06pm.

Dale McCorkell at The Heritage Hotel.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said McCorkell was driving a Toyota ute and only held a probationary driver's licence at the time.

She said he admitted to police his use of drugs prior to the intercept.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said McCorkell worked full-time as a painter and the last time he consumed drugs was this offence and this had been a “wakeup call”.

McCorkell pleaded guilty on February 8 to one count of drug driving.

He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Dion James Jackson, 45, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving a ute on the Capricorn Highway near Emerald on November 9 at 3.34pm.

Dion James Jackson, 45.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Jackson, a father of three, worked as a full-time operator at the mines for the past three years.

She said he had a prescription for medical marijuana and now realised he could not drive while using that prescription.

The court heard Jackson had six-pages of traffic history but nothing relevant in the past five years.

Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving on February 8.

He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for two months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Peter Andrew Stokes had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving on Musgrave Street, Berserker, on November 20.

He had a four-page traffic record, but no entries in the past five years.

Stokes pleaded guilty on February 12 to one count of drug driving.

He told the court he had been diagnosed with lung cancer three weeks prior to his court date.

Stokes said he had been told it was inoperable and the doctors were in the early stages of planning his treatment which would consist of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

He said he was unable to breathe and had quit working recently.

Stokes was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

 Scott Peter Warcon had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading of .150 when he was intercepted driving on Lakes Creek Road at Lakes Creek on January 26 at 8am.

Scott Peter Warcon.

He held a heavy rigid licence – the highest class of truck driver's licence.

Warcon had an entry on his traffic history within the past five years - a reading of .072.

He pleaded guilty on February 12 to one count of drink driving, was fined $1100 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

The court did not hear if a traffic conviction was recorded.

Helzy Ann O’Neill had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving on Morgan Street at Mount Morgan at 4.38pm on December 12.

She had no traffic record.

O’Neill pleaded guilty on February 14 to one count of drug driving.

She told the court she did not work for health reasons and had since sold the car.

O’Neill was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Peter Jackson Turner had a BAC of .116 when he was intercepted driving at 7am on January 13 on Moores Creek Road, Rockhampton, and only held a Learners drivers' licence.

“It’s pretty rare to see that reading for someone on a learner permits,” Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said.

Turner pleaded guilty on February 14 to one count of drink driving.

He was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Marina Jade Caruana-Blackett, a real estate property manager, had MDMA in her system when she was intercepted driving on Bridge Street, Berserker, on November 25.

Real estate property manager Marina Jade Caruana-Blackett.

She pleaded guilty on February 20 to one count of drug driving.

Caruana-Blackett told the court she thought her drink had been spiked.

She said her mother had died recently and her sisters were visiting at the time of the incident.

Caruana-Blackett said she was a property manager, spending two days per week carrying out inspections, along with entry and exit reports, for about 250 properties from Zilzie to Gracemere.

She was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month, but granted a restricted licence for work purposes for that duration.

No conviction was recorded.

Kaitlyn Rose Mizzi, 19, had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving with a Learners licence on Campbell Street, Rockhampton, at 6.19am on January 16.

Kaitlyn Rose Mizzi, 19, had marijuana in her system when she was intercepted driving with a Learner's licence on Campbell Street, Rockhampton, at 6.19am on January 16.

The court heard she admitted to consuming marijuana the night before.

Defence lawyer Ms Legrady said Mizzi’s support worker had escorted her to court.

Mizzi was disqualified from driving for three months and fined $50.

Thomas James Ramm had a BAC of .058 when he was intercepted driving along the Capricorn Highway at Westwood on February 4 at 5.45pm.

He pleaded guilty to the single drink driving charge on March 18.

Police prosecutor Brendon Selic said Ramm was the holder of a provisional driver’s licence which subjected him to a zero BAC limit.

Mr Selic said Ramm told police he had drank three rum and Pepsi’s just over two hours before driving.

Ramm was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Kent William Staudinger had a BAC of .079 when he was intercepted driving on River Ave, Rockhampton, at 2.17am on February 2.

He told police he had consumed Bundaberg Rum premixes over a long period of time.

Staudinger told the court “it turned into a rough night” and “I was in a fight before driving which led to the driving”.

He pleaded guilty on March 26 to one count of drink driving.

Staudinger was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for two months.

John Hancock, 71, had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving a Nissan Skyline on the Capricorn Highway at Fairybower at 3.55pm on February 13.

Police prosecutor Corey Connor said Hancock admitted recent drug use, saying he had smoked marijuana the night before.

He said Hancock’s criminal history showed he had an ongoing issue with drugs but there were no drug drive entries on his traffic record.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Hancock was a pensioner who had used marijuana to help him sleep and didn’t know it would still be in his system the following day and wouldn’t have driven had he known.

Magistrate Cameron Press warned Hancock marijuana stays in people’s systems for up to two weeks.

Hancock pleaded guilty on March 27 to one count of drug driving.

He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Bailey Copland only held a Learners licence when he was intercepted driving a Mitsubishi Pajero slowly on Bolsolver Street, Rockhampton, on March 4 about 9.30pm.

Police prosecutor Corey Connor said checks revealed the number plates attached were not for that vehicle.

Copland had a BAC of .081.

He pleaded guilty on March 27 to one count of drink driving, was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Originally published as Motorists in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for drink, drug driving