Roma Magistrates Court: Latest round of drink or drug drivers named
A man so drunk he swerved across the road and couldn’t even remember his middle name was one of the latest drink or drug drivers to face Roma court. Here’s the latest round of offenders busted behind the wheel while under the influence.
Police & Courts
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From downing half a bottle of whiskey to eating McDonald’s while swerving all over the road, here’s all the drink or drug drivers who appeared in Roma Magistrates Court over the past month for their booze-fuelled offending.
Conviction recorded
A Wandoan man busted driving a B-double with two different illegal drugs in his system has fronted court.
Rheyen Patrick Coulter Arnold pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on May 29 police intercepted a Mac prime mover towing two trailers at 7.30am for a drug test on the Warrego Highway, Roma.
Initial tests came back positive and Arnold was detained and taken back to the police station.
“He was co-operative with police and made admissions to which illicit drugs were used,” Mr Donnelly said.
Further saliva tests confirmed the presence of cannabis and methylamphetamine.
“Silly mistake again, I don’t really have much to say, I’m sorry,” Arnold told the court.
Magistrate Shane Elliott said this was a “more serious example” drug driving.
“If you want to drive such a big truck, don’t do it (take dangerous drugs), you put everyone at risk,” Mr Elliott said.
“You’re in a B-double with drugs in your system. It’s very dangerous.
“You won’t be able to drive for a long time.”
Arnold was handed a $900 fine referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for nine months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A fur mum who brought her dog to court has been sentenced to imprisonment for continually drug driving and disobeying court orders.
Jennifer Joanne Coles pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court for drug driving and driving without a licence while suspended.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on July 18 at 3.30pm police intercepted Coles for a licence check and RBT.
When asked for her licence, she said she didn’t have one and was just driving a friend’s car back to her house as a favour.
After she exited the vehicle she was asked if she had consumed any illicit drugs in the last two weeks, she stated she hadn’t.
However the court was told the saliva test came back positive and she was detained and taken back to the police station for further testing, which revealed she had traces of cannabis in her system.
Mr Donnelly requested Coles’ suspended prison sentence be activated as she had directly breached the suspended sentence requirement to not commit an indictable offence.
Defence lawyer Laurie Parker said his client suffers from a number of health conditions, including ADHD, borderline personality disorder and asthma.
“It’s as simple as a friend’s car had been involved in a crash, she went to pick up her friend.
“I’ve explained to her that she simply can’t do that.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger agreed to activate the sentence and set an immediate parole release so Coles wouldn’t have to spend any time behind bars.
“The court told you not to drive again, they sentenced you to a period of imprisonment and that was suspended wholly for a period of two years,” Mr Finger said.
“The only penalty that can be imposed is a period of imprisonment in my view.
“Mark my words, if you drive again in the next three years you will go to prison with actual time in custody.
“That’s not out on parole, that’ll be in prison.”
Coles was handed a combined six month prison sentence with immediate parole and disqualified from driving for three years.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A Roma truck driver caught drug driving again just two days before his court appearance has had his behaviour labelled “appalling” by the magistrate.
Shaun Clifford Luck pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on June 25 police intercepted Luck for a drug test at the truck pads on the Warrego Highway, Roma.
The roadside test came back positive and Luck was detained and transported to the Roma police station for further analysis.
During police questioning, he admitted to consuming ice some days earlier with tests confirming the presence of methylamphetamine.
“I just want to apologise,” Luck told the court.
Magistrate Shane Elliott said the defendant’s traffic history was “appalling”.
“You were on bail on a notice to appear in court, two days before this you were driving around with drugs in your system,” Mr Elliott said.
“What are you doing with yourself?
“You’ve got three previous in recent times of driving with drugs in your system.”
Luck was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for four months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A 38-year-old accountant who “barely drinks” has told a court she helped herself to some drinks left in her fridge by a friend before jumping behind the wheel.
Kara Marie Louise Johansen pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on July 22 Johansen was intercepted for a breath test on Bowen St, Roma.
She gave a positive reading and further tests revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.098.
Johansen told police she finished consuming a Jamieson an hour ago at a private residence and had about three cans of alcohol between 4.30 to 7pm.
Defence lawyer Clancy Robba said his client genuinely thought she was permitted to drive given the amount of time she consumed the drinks over.
“I’m instructed she barely drinks, she had some Canadian Clubs in her fridge left by a friend a few weeks before,” Mr Robba said.
“She drove approximately three blocks to a friends house. She’s kicking herself why she didn’t walk the short distance.
“The cans were a much higher alcohol content than what she thought they were.”
Magistrate Shane Elliott said it was concerning Johansen had come back before the court again for drink driving.
“You were almost twice the legal limit at 0.098,” Mr Elliott said.
“It’s true that you don’t have much history but you also have a previous history where you were disqualified for two months in 2016 for a reading of 0.065 and you had a work licence on that occasion.
“Most people who commit this offence won’t come back again, unfortunately you have. I accept the explanation given. I can’t ignore that you’re back before the court again for the same offence.”
Johansen was given a $500 fine referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for three months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
Zane Vincent Jackson, 26, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to high-range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on July 29 police intercepted Jackson for a licence check and roadside breath test on Currey St, Roma at about 11.40pm.
He admitted to consuming eight cans of Great Northern full strength beer at a residence since noon.
Tests revealed a positive reading of 0.161 and he was issued with an immediate driving suspension and given a notice to appear in court.
Defence lawyer Laurie Parker said his client made a “silly” mistake to drive and get more firewood to keep warm.
“It’s as simple as he drank five full strength beers and having run out of firewood, he was cold and wanted to put on more firewood. It’s a silly thing to do and he regrets it now,” Mr Parker said.
Magistrate Shane Elliott said it was “disappointing” to see Jackson in court for the first time.
“It’s disappointing you’re before me, you’ve got no criminal history, no traffic history, you’re working. You just made a really poor decision,” he said.
Jackson was fined $600 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for six months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A Roma father-of-three who was busted driving after smoking ice has landed in court for the sixth time.
Ronald Craig Dennis pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on June 1 a Holden Rodeo dual cab utility was intercepted at a stationary RBT on the Warrego Highway, Roma.
The court was told the roadside drug test came back positive and Dennis was detained and transported back to the police station.
He admitted to smoking ice two weeks prior and further tests showed the presence of methylamphetamine.
Defence lawyer Laurie Parker said his client consumed the drug because he “had a stressful month”.
Magistrate Shane Elliott said it was concerning the number of driving under the influence offences Dennis has on his traffic history
“One in 2019, one in 2004, 2002 these are all drink drives but still under the influence. ‘94, ‘88 - some of them are some time ago.
“For you to be using methylamphetamine is stupid, isn’t it? First of all you’re 56, you shouldn’t be putting that rubbish in your body, people our age can’t afford to put that sort of thing in your body.
“It’s surprising someone your age would be using methylamphetamine.”
Dennis was fined $500 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for four months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A 52-year-old mum who recently moved interstate to Roma for work has already landed in hot water with the law after being caught drug driving near the NSW border.
Narelle Frances Ellen Bennett pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on May 10 Goondiwindi police intercepted Bennett for a roadside drug test on the Cunningham Highway.
“She produced a NSW licence and surrendered a Queensland licence,” Mr Donnelly said.
The court was told despite the test coming back positive, Bennett denied taking illicit drugs within the last two years.
When questioned about what she used, she admitted to taking heroin and speed.
Bennett said she was driving from NSW to Roma to commence a new job.
Defence lawyer Matt McCarthy said his client was unaware she was driving with drugs in her system.
“She used cannabis just three days prior to that incident, with respect to the methamphetamine, unbeknownst to her at the time some methamphetamine has been placed in her drink,” Mr McCarthy said.
“She instructs she wouldn’t have driven if she had known drugs were present.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger said it was concerning this was the third time Bennett has fronted court for her offending since 2017.
She was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for four months.
A conviction was recorded.
•
A man dealing with depression following the breakdown of his relationship has fronted court for his booze-fuelled and erratic driving.
Andrrew Peter Webber pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to high range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said police observed a vehicle driving across the centre line of the road on Quintin St, Roma and noted at one point the entire vehicle was on the wrong side of the road.
Officers intercepted the vehicle and informed the defendant they were conducting a licence check and RBT.
The court was told the officers observed Webber eating McDonalds while inside the car.
“When asked to provide his full and correct name, he struggled to remember his middle name,” Mr Donnelly said.
“He was asked if he consumed any alcohol, he said ‘yeah I have’.
His roadside blood alcohol concentration reading was 0.2 and when he exited the vehicle so police could take him back to the station, they observed Weber was “very unsteady on his feet.”
Once back at the police station, further analysis revealed the defendant had a blood alcohol reading of 0.173.
“I’m very remorseful and regret my actions, on the night I had difficulty with my then partner,” Weber told the court.
“I made the wrong decision to go to the hotel, it was basically emotional drinking, I suffer depression.
“I’ve been trying to stay away from the pub.
“After the separation I lost everything.”
Acting magistrate Gary Finger fined him $1100 referred to SPER and disqualified him from driving for eight months.
A conviction was recorded.
No conviction recorded
An expat worried about his visa status has told a court he didn’t know what the legal drinking limit was before downing half a bottle of whiskey and jumping behind the wheel.
Rey Carrasca Cariaga pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to high range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on August 12 police patrolling Roma intercepted a vehicle for a roadside breath test at 11.41pm.
However, the vehicle didn’t stop and continued on Duke St before driving into the driveway of a Duke St address.
“The defendant was the driver of the vehicle. He turned off the car and went to enter his home and tried to put his keys in the door,” Mr Donnelly said..
“Police told him to stop what he was doing.
“He continued to attempt to get into the house to no avail, he asked the police to leave him alone and let him go.
“Police gave him a roadside breath test requirement that was positive.”
When asked for his licence, Cariaga said he didn’t have it on him and when asked for his name, he refused.
The court was told Cariaga finally complied after he was given a requirement to provide his name.
The defendant was taken back to the Roma police station where a certificate of analysis revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.186.
“He said he thinks he consumed about half a bottle of Chivas Regal which he bought himself,” Mr Donnelly said.
“He had no idea when he started drinking or when his last drink was.
“He said he did not know what the legal limit for driving was.”
Magistrate Shane Elliott said he understood Cariaga was worried about how a recorded conviction would impact his Visa status and took into account his lack of history.
“I’m going to exercise my discretion and not record a conviction against you,” Mr Elliott said.
“You come before the court without any criminal or traffic history, you’re working and you’re branch manager speaks highly of you.”
Cariaga was fined $500 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for six months.
No conviction was recorded.
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