Christopher Prowse faced Proserpine Magistrates Court charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit

A driver, caught speeding 11 times in five years, ended up back in trouble with the law after a drunken night out at Airlie Beach ended in disaster.

Christopher Prowse faced Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday.

A driver with a shocking speeding history was back before Proserpine Magistrates Court this week after he drunkenly sped around Airlie Beach before crashing into a parked car and brick wall.

Christopher Prowse pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and driving a motor vehicle whilst over the middle alcohol limit.

The court heard that on December 28, 2024 at around 3.30am police saw Prowse driving at excessive speed towards a police vehicle and crossing over a single continuous line in the Airlie Beach safe night precinct.

It was noted that at that time of the morning there was often intoxicated pedestrians walking on the footpath and crossing the road due to the proximity to the area’s nightclubs.

Prowse turned onto Shingley Drive, an area he later admitted to police he was unfamiliar with, and began speeding with his headlights turned off.

He then tried to turn into the Coral Sea Marina car park without appropriately braking which led to his car mounting a footpath and crashing into a brick wall and a parked car.

While being arrested Prowse told police that based on his speedometer, he was driving in excess of 80km/h, the court heard.

He also admitted to purposely turning off his headlights in an attempt to make police lose sight of the vehicle.

Testing showed a breath alcohol concentration of 0.102 grams of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

Prowse, who represented himself in court, told the court after drinking ginger ale all night he consumed at least seven “double” drinks and two Jim Beams at Paddy’s Shenanigans in Airlie Beach before getting in the car.

Despite Prowse saying he had not done anything like this since he was 21, the court heard Prowse had 11 speeding offences since 2019.

Magistrate Anna Smith said Prowse’s actions were putting himself and others at risk.

She imposed a four-month suspended jail sentence and 12-month driving disqualification.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Christopher Prowse faced Proserpine Magistrates Court charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit