Bailey’s Earthmoving owner Glen Bailey pleads guilty to driving under the influence

An earthworks business owner was pulled over for his erratic drunk driving on the Bruce Hwy and then police were forced to administer him first aid as he was taken from the scene.

Bailey’s Earthmoving owner Glen Bailey.

A Nanango diesel mechanic and business owner pleaded guilty to drink driving on Monday after being found driving erratically on the Bruce Hwy and five times over the alcohol limit.

Glen Bailey, 56, pleaded guilty in the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday to driving under the influence.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said on July 21, 2023, police were alerted to a vehicle driving “erratically” on the Bruce Hwy near North Lakes.

After stopping the car, they found Bailey in the driver’s seat along with a passenger.

Sergeant Stevens said after Bailey produced a positive result on a breath test, police placed him in the back of the police car before there was a “minor scuffle”.

He said during the ride to the police station, Bailey appeared to fall “unconscious”

“Police immediately stopped the vehicle on the side of the road and tendered first aid,” Sgt Stevens said.

After some time, Bailey regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital.

The court heard Bailey had an alcohol reading of .274, more than five times the legal limit.

Bailey’s Earthmoving owner Glen Bailey.

Bailey’s lawyer Sjaana Stephens said Bailey had lived in Nanango for the past 32 years, was a diesel mechanic and plant operator who ran a local earth moving business, Bailey’s Earthmoving, for the past 25 years and had nine employees.

Ms Stephens said his day-to day work involved driving trucks, machinery and road trains.

“So the loss of his licence will have a significant impact on his business because he plays an active role in that business,” Ms Stephens said.

She said Bailey “holds every type of licence” and must pay someone to drive him around.

The court heard Bailey had a workplace accident in 2022 when a concrete block fell on his leg and he developed a gastric ulcer.

He also suffered “very badly” from the death of two of his best friends in the same year and was medicated for depression.

Ms Stephens said the “build-up” to the drink-driving may explain why he made an “uncharacteristic” choice.

The court heard two months after he was stopped by police, Bailey was involved in a “high-speed” car crash, where he was the passenger, and suffered two fractures to his spine and a knee injury that he requires surgery for.

“He is extremely ashamed by his behaviour,” Ms Stephens said.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said the incident did appear to be “out of character”.

“The reading is exceptionally high and the danger is highlighted by the fact that you passed out,” Mr Sinclair said.

He fined Bailey $2750 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

After the 12 months he would need to spend $2000 to fit an interlock system into any vehicle he drove for a further 12 months.

An interlock device is a breath test which the driver must blow into and return a negative reading for alcohol before driving.

The device also requires further tests to be conducted periodically throughout the drive and any failure of the test would result in the car ignition not starting.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Bailey’s Earthmoving owner Glen Bailey pleads guilty to driving under the influence