Latest round of drink or drug drivers named in Roma Magistrates Court

The latest round of drink or drug drivers who have faced Roma Magistrates Court have been revealed. FULL LIST:

Multiple Maranoa drivers were found guilty of drink or drug driving and had their licence taken off them at the Roma Magistrates Court.

By naming the offenders, The Western Star and Queensland Police Service are joining forces to tackle the scourge of drink and drug driving across the vast region to improve the safety of all road users.

While many others fronted court on pending drink and drug driving charges, here’s a list of those who were sentenced.

Conviction recorded:

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A builder who downed 20 schooners of beer the night before jumping behind the wheel has landed in court for still blowing over the legal alcohol limit.

Leslie Mervin Richard Allwood, 39, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the middle alcohol limit.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on June 1 at 8.13am Allwood was intercepted on the Warrego Highway, Roma for a random breath test.

Allwood, who was on his way to work, told police he drank 20 schooners of Great Northern Super Crisp beer the previous night while watching the State of Origin.

Tests came back positive, confirming he had a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.116.

Defence lawyer Trevor May said his client has a limited history with only one previous drink drive entry from 14 years ago.

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney fined him $600 referred to SPER and disqualified him from driving for five months. The defendant was granted a restricted work licence.

A conviction was recorded.

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A Roma father busted drug driving on meth has fronted the magistrate.

Shaun Clifford Luck, 30, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to two counts of drug driving.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on December 11 Luck was intercepted for a drug test on the Warrego Highway, Roma.

Despite denying consuming any illicit drugs, a drug certificate confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.

The latest round of drink or drug drivers who have faced Roma Magistrates Court over the past month.

On April 2 Luck was intercepted again for a drug test on Arthur St, Roma.

The boilermaker denied using drugs within the past two weeks, however a saliva test confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney said he acknowledged Luck didn’t have an extensive history for this type of offending and would “dial the fines back”.

Luck was fined $300 for each of the drug drives and disqualified from driving for one month and two months respectively.

Convictions were recorded.

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A mine worker busted drug driving for the third time has fronted court for his offending.

Joseph Cody Hague pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on May 25 at 1.36am a Mitsubishi Triton was intercepted by police for a drug test on Quintin St, Roma.

Hague admitted to taking cocaine a couple of hours prior.

The drug test came back positive and confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.

When asked in court if he had anything to say, he simply said “I’ve got no words”.

Magistrate Shane Elliott handed Hague a $700 fine referred to SPER and a three month driving disqualification.

A conviction was recorded.

The latest round of drink or drug drivers who have faced Roma Magistrates Court over the past month.

No conviction recorded:

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A 19-year-old father busted drug driving while unlicenced and with drug utensils in his car has fronted court for his behaviour.

William Edwin Cuff-Hawthorne, 19, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving, driving unlicensed and possessing drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on March 10 Cuff-Hawthorne was stopped by police in Toowoomba while on his way to pick up his girlfriend so they could watch the Broncos play in Brisbane.

However police checks revealed he didn’t hold a relevant licence and drug tests revealed he tested positive for cannabis.

Police searched the car and located a pipe and three cone pieces used in connection to a dangerous drug.

Defence lawyer Trevor May said his client had since turned his life around and now had full-time employment and no longer smoked cannabis.

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney said he acknowledged Cuff-Hawthorne had made positive changes in his life since moving out to Roma.

“You’re still young and you’re working and you’re playing an active role in raising your children,” the magistrate said.

Mr Courtney said this would be the last time no conviction would be recorded.

Cuff-Hawthorne was fined a combined $500 for all offences and disqualified from driving for four months.

No convictions were recorded.

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Toby Geoffrey Wallace pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on June 16 a blue Isuzu ute was stopped on the Warrego Highway, Roma for a random breath test.

Tests revealed Wallace had a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.054.

He admitted to having about 10 schooners of XXXX beer the night before.

Defence lawyer Phillip Costello said his client normally only drinks one or two beers but on this occasion he got “carried away” during celebrations with his mates at a motel.

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney said he acknowledged the defendant’s limited history, with his last similar entry dating back 20 years.

“The reading is consistent with your story, so hopefully you’ve learnt your lesson,” he said.

Wallace was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for two months.

He was granted a restricted work licence and no conviction was recorded.

The latest round of drink or drug drivers who have faced Roma Magistrates Court over the past month.

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A man who celebrated purchasing a new truck with a bottle of wine has wound up in court.

Stephen Lewis, 63, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to mid-range drink driving.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on June 1 at 7.55am police intercepted an Isuzu truck with no registration plates for a random breath test.

The court was told Lewis had a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.100.

The defendant told police he had just bought the brand new truck in Brisbane and was passing through Roma on his way.

Due to the high cost of registering the vehicle in Queensland, Lewis got a permit allowing him to drive it back to his home state of Western Australia to register it.

However his money-saving plan turned to shambles as he’s now spent more than $3000 in accommodation to stay in Roma for his court hearing and now has to dish out $9000 for the truck to be driven back home for him.

Apart from a drink drive charge from 30 years ago, the court was told the retired man was an avid volunteer who had been awarded commendations from the government for his efforts.

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney said he’s acknowledged Lewis’ contribution to the Broome community and the cost he’s already incurred for being charged.

“This has cost you money given the dynamics of you stuck here with a truck,” the magistrate said.

Lewis was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

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A depressed man who ‘laughed’ when police caught him drink driving said he offended because he was lonely.

Justin Barry Salter, 38, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to driving under the influence of liquor or a drug.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on April 29 patrolling police intercepted a Toyota Hilux on Bowen St, Roma for a random breath test.

“Prior to being prompted by police he stated ‘I’ll probably be over’ confirming he had been drinking prior to being intercepted.

“While laughing he stated that over an hour he had probably about eight or nine (drinks).”

Due to the instrument not working, police collected a blood sample which came back with a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.173.

The latest round of drink or drug drivers who have faced Roma Magistrates Court over the past month.

“He was home and drinking some Jack Daniel’, then he felt quite lonely and depressed so he went to the pub to see if he can find some friends,” Defence lawyer Phillip Costello said.

“He looked around and he didn’t see anyone he knew and so he went on his way home and that’s when he got picked up.”

Deputy chief magistrate Stephen Courtney handed him an $800 fine referred to SPER and disqualified him from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

FULL STORY

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The owner of a regional Queensland building business, whose car was written off after he caused a major crash near Injune, has faced court after he and his passenger were hospitalised.

Ronan Angus Robinson pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to driving over the middle alcohol limit.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on May 6 about 2am, police responded to reports of a single-vehicle rollover on Arcadia Valley Rd, Baffle West.

The court was told the LandCruiser Robinson was driving suffered “significant damage” after it rolled across the road.

“On arrival (police)... observed markings on the road which (showed) the vehicle had swung from one side of the road to the other and then rolled at least once,” Mr Donnelly said.

“He stated he had been drinking earlier at the Injune Hotel and consumed several beers and rum and coke cans.”

Police obtained a blood sample after both the female passenger and defendant were taken to hospital, while firefighters stayed behind to clear the road and remove the vehicle, which had to be completely written off.

The court was told a blood analysis came back a few days later revealing Robinson, who operates his own building business, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.127.

Robinson was handed a $600 fine, referred to SPER, and disqualified from driving for five months.

He was granted a restricted work licence and no conviction was recorded.

FULL STORY

Originally published as Latest round of drink or drug drivers named in Roma Magistrates Court