Matthew Albury Claude Waites faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court for mid-range drink driving, driving without a licence

A couple of beers in the sheds following a game of footy has seen a Toowoomba man face court for drink driving after he was stopped by police on his way home from Highfields.

A few drinks to celebrate a hard-fought win on the footy field have ended in a hefty disqualification and fine for a Toowoomba man.

Matthew Albury Claude Waites fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and driving without a licence.

The court was told that Waites was stopped by police on Wine Drive, Wilsonton, about 1.10am on April 10, 2022, and he returned a positive roadside breath test.

Matthew Albury Claude Waites, 27, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 15, 2022, where he pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving in an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, and a separate offence of driving without a licence.

After he was taken back to Toowoomba Police Station the 27-year-old returned a reading of 0.109, police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Hutton said.

Further checks by police revealed the registration of Waites’ vehicle had expired about five weeks prior, and that as a result he was also uninsured.

A week later Waites was again stopped by police on the Carnarvon Highway near Tingun in the same vehicle about 5.15pm on April 17, 2022.

The court was told he gave his licence to police and claimed he had renewed it but didn’t realise he was subject to an immediate suspension resulting from the drink driving offence.

Waites’ solicitor Kirsty Smith said her client had moved to Toowoomba in October last year to play rugby league.

Matthew Albury Claude Waites has been ordered off the road for more than two years by a magistrate after he was caught driving without a licence.

On the evening he was caught drink driving, the court was told Waites was celebrating a win at Highfields football fields with a few beers before heading home.

Ms Smith said at the beginning of April Waites’ aunty had passed away, and that he had returned home to Cunnamulla to be with family when he was stopped by police the second time as he and a cousin were on their way to go fishing.

Ms Smith said Waites didn’t realise the immediate suspension notice was with the other paperwork he received on April 10, and he thought he had just been fined.

“He is extremely remorseful for this series of events that brought him to court,” Ms Smith said.

Magistrate Kay Philipson disqualified Waites from holding a driver’s licence for two years and six months, and fined him $750, which was referred to SPER. Convictions were recorded.