John Conlan Wallace caught drink driving after ‘missus’ tells him to get home

A 23-year-old who blew more than twice the legal limit has told a court he was ordered home by his partner. But the magistrate wasn’t having it.

A Meringandan man caught drink-driving after being told to get home by his wife has been fined, disqualified from driving and banished to the Gold Coast.

John Conlan Wallace was pulled over by police on Spies Road, Meringandan, about 9.15pm, July 29, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Asked by police if he had an emergent reason for driving, “He said his missus wanted him home”, police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court.

He blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.109, Senior Constable Willson said.

The 23-year-old electrician pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

His solicitor Troy Krahenbring, of Wonderley and Hall Solicitors, told the court his client had been at birthday drinks with friends and had not intended to drive.

John Conlan Wallace appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on August 16, 2022.

Mr Krahenbring said Wallace normally walked the short distance home but he got a call from his partner and thought it best to get home “post haste”.

“He’s 23, not 12,” Magistrate Kay Phillipson observed.

“What, is he going to be grounded?”

Ms Phillipson said if Wallace was already in trouble the half-hour walk home wouldn’t have made any difference.

Mr Krahenbring said Wallace’s employer had arranged for him to work on a Gold Coast site during the period of his licence disqualification.

Ms Phillipson noted the 23-year-old had no previous drink-driving offences and ordered the conviction not be recorded but fined Wallace $650 and disqualified him from driving for three months.