Steven Wayne Dixon busted for drink driving again after multiple convictions

When police pulled a Rockhampton father of four over, they found bottles of beer, some consumed, in the truck’s cabin. It was his eighth drink driving offence in just six years. Now he’s facing the harsh consequences.

A Rockhampton father of four already had five convictions for drink driving and had spent 21 days in a rehabilitation centre when he was busted drink beer while driving a truck.

Steven Wayne Dixson, 37, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on September 17 to three counts of drink driving, three of disqualified driving, one of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one of failing to stop at a red light, one each of driving an unregistered car which was also uninsured and had incorrect registration plates attached, and one of breaching bail.

Dixson had been disqualified from driving for three years in August 2020, which was on top of another disqualification that was set to expire in November 2021, for drink driving and disqualified driving.

He was then intercepted on October 30, 2020, driving a stolen car which was unregistered and uninsured and had incorrect registration plates attached.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Harris said Dixson had purchased the vehicle on the side of the road from someone he thought was the owner, paying them $50,000 in cash.

Dixson was also intoxicated at the time of intercept and had a blood-alcohol concentration reading of .201.

He was next intercepted driving along Moores Creek Road on January 23, 2021, with a BAC of .174.

The third intercept took place on Alexander Street, Park Avenue, on August 11, after having failed to stop at a red light, in a truck towing bobcats.

Dixson’s BAC was .145 and he had been drinking alcohol while driving, with police locating Great Northern Beer bottles, some empty, in the truck cabin.

All three incidents breached a probation order he was placed on in August 2020.

Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said Dixson’s traffic history since 2000 had traffic convictions every single year, including one for driving unlicensed, two for disqualified driving and he was in court on four occasions for drink driving with one BAC recording for .225.

She said he had progressed to continue drinking alcohol while driving.

“The sheer volume and nature of these offences have been an escalation in his offending behaviour and has placed the community at immense risk,” Ms Butler said.

“His offending has shown a complete lack of concern for the wider community and the potential catastrophic impacts his offending could have on innocent people.

“His drink driving offences occur at different times of the day including around 11am and then again around 6pm when there are more cars and people on the roads than the middle of the night.”

Steven Wayne Dixon, 37, already had five convictions for drink driving, spent 21 days in a rehabilitation centre after being charged with two more drink driving offences, when he was busted drink driving a truck towing bobcats.

Ms Harris said Dixson, a divorcee, had significant issues with alcohol and after being charged in January, he presented to Rockhampton Hospital with an anxiety attack.

From there, Dixson saw his GP and underwent a 21-day rehabilitation program.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said the photographs provided to the court of the truck Dixson was driving while drinking beers showed he had ‘bobcat like’ machines on the trailer.

“I believe on that occasion you made reference to police that that was how you were dealing with your alcoholism – continually just having beers,” he said.

“You’ve had some significant challenges with alcohol since your divorce.

“Your efforts at rehabilitation have been unsuccessful, but they have been some real efforts including attending a 21-day rehabilitation program.”

Mr Schubert sentenced Dixson to 12 months prison and disqualified him from driving for a further nine years and eight months.

He was also fined $300 for breaching the probation order and resentenced to a one-month prison term.

Originally published as Steven Wayne Dixon busted for drink driving again after multiple convictions