Toowoomba Court: Drink or drug drivers across the Darling Downs busted

It’s only a few months into 2023, but a number of drink or drug drivers have already faced Toowoomba courts for getting behind the wheel while under the influence. Here are some who have been busted.

Though 2023 has only just started, Toowoomba Magistrates Court has already dealt with a number of people pleading guilty to drink-driving and drug-driving offences, including:

Amanda Boyd

At Toowoomba Magistrate Court on Wednesday, February 15, IGA worker Amanda Lee Boyd pleaded guilty to driving with cannabis in her system after she was stopped by police at 5.30am.

Magistrate Kay Phillipson said there was a warrant on file for Boyd’s arrest, which she would cancel.

The court was told the warrant was ordered after the retail worker failed to appear in court, because she thought she could plead guilty and obtain a work licence online.

Magistrate Phillipson told Boyd she was not eligible for a work licence because she was convicted of drug driving in 2021.

Amanda Lee Boyd leaving the Toowoomba Courthouse after pleading guilty to drug driving. Picture: Toowoomba Chronicle

The court was told Boyd’s Holden was pulled over along Hume St on December 7, 2022, where a roadside drug test came back positive for cannabis.

After Boyd apologised to the court, she was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Zachary Bauer

Afternoon beers with “the boys” after work on January 20, landed Zachary Wade Bauer in court after he was caught drink driving a truck along Bridge St.

On Tuesday, February 14, the 20-year-old pleaded guilty to driving on a provisional licence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.029 per cent.

The concreter told the court his boss wasn’t happy and would try to keep him on the roster despite his loss of licence.
He was fine $450 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Bryce Gardner

A Toowoomba dad will not be able to drive to either one of his two jobs, after he was caught driving on Emu Creek Rd with a blood-alcohol level of 0.072 per cent.

A Toowoomba court was told the boilermaker and diesel fitter needed his job to support his family.

On Tuesday, February 14, Gardner pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit and was fined $400, and disqualified from driving for one month.

Operation Quebec Blue Strike to crack down on drink and drug-affected driving. Picture Glenn Hampson

Myles Egan

Concreter Myles Alwyn Egan was on a disqualified licence when he was busted not only driving along a busy Toowoomba street, but doing so with illicit drugs in his system.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty on January 19 in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to driving without a licence disqualified by a court order and drug driving.

Police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court police spotted Egan driving on Anzac Ave on November 7 around 12.40pm, and after discovering he had a disqualified licence, Egan returned a positive reading to cannabis.

Egan reportedly told police at the time he was aware he was without a licence, however “decided to take the risk” to attend a job interview.

Magistrate Clare Kelly disqualified Egan from driving for two years and three months, and was fined $900, referred to SPER.

Toowoomba Courthouse in Hume St

Manyan Jok Ayii
The decision to drive home after a party proved to be a costly mistake for Toowoomba butcher Manyang Jok Ayii after he blew more than three times the legal limit.

On January 19, 2023, the 35-year-old pleaded guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to driving under the influence of liquor.

Police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court patrolling police conducted a roadside breath test on Ayii after pulling him over on Robindale Drive, Darling Heights around 3am on December 17, 2022.

An open beer and Jack Daniels can were observed in the vehicle’s cup holders, and after a further test at the station, Ayii returned an alcohol reading of 0.171.

Ayii told police at the time he had consumed two bottles of Tooheys beer, and four cans of Jack Daniels.

Ayii, who represented himself in court, told magistrate Clare Kelly he was on his way home from a party on the last day of work, and accepted he put himself and others in danger by getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Ayii was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $800 to be referred to SPER.

Brodie Edmeades
A 34-year-old father of three was busted drug driving for the third time in five years, after he was found to already be on a suspended sentence.

Brodie John Edmeades was on a probationary drivers licence when police conducted an RBT at 12.35pm on November 9, 2022 on Meringandan Shirley Rd.

Methamphetamines were detected in his system on the day, and Edmeades pleaded guilty at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 19 to drug driving.

Edmeades’ solicitor Michael McElhinney told the court his client was set to start work on an oil rig near Dalby that would require regular drug testing.

Magistrate Clare Kelly acknowledged in the past Edmeades had taken steps in the past to deal with his drug issues, however urged him to get assistance and support from others.

“You’re a mature aged gentleman. You understand what you need to do,” she said.

Edmeades was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $750, to be referred to SPER for the drug driving.

However due to his breach of a suspended sentence, Ms Kelly extended the operational period by three months.

Mackay breathalyser

Intoxicated drivers who had no conviction recorded

William Oliver Te’o

A Toowoomba teenager who crashed his boss’s vehicle on a city street while driving more than three times the limit has paid a hefty price.

William Oliver Te’o lost control of the gold Holden Commodore he was driving on Wombyra St, Newtown, about 5pm, December 23, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday.

William Oliver Te'o leaves Toowoomba Courthouse on February 14, 2023.

Although he later told police he had been doing a U-turn when he hit the kerb and his tyres blew out, a witness said the 19-year-old had been speeding and failed to take the corner with the car spinning out of control and hitting the kerb, police prosecutor Kinsley Weir told the court.

The teenager was on a learner’s permit at the time yet did not have a qualified driver with him and a breath test returned a breath/alcohol reading of 0.168, Senior Constable Weir said.

Te’o pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected and to driving unaccompanied on a learner’s permit.

Noting he had been without his driver’s licence since the event, magistrate Kay Phillipson fined Te’o $1000 and disqualified him from driving for six months with no conviction recorded.

Toby Range

Toowoomba dad, Toby John Swords Range was fined $350 in court after he pleaded guilty to driving with a drug in his system. The court heard, police pulled Range over along Anzac Ave on December 29, and performed a roadside drug test, which came back positive for cannabis. The welder said he would be able to work despite losing his licence for one month. No conviction was recorded.

Seremaia Raibe
The Toowoomba Magistrate Court heard at 3.30am police caught Seremaia Raibe drink driving along Margaret St, on January 8.
On Tuesday, February 14, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to driving over the general limit, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.067.
The factory worker was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Michael Crane
A “few beers” with mates before driving home led to a 22-year-old man blowing a breath/alcohol reading more than three times the legal limit after he was pulled over by police on a Toowoomba street.

Michael Riley Crane leaves Toowoomba Courthouse on January 25, 2023.

Michael Riley Crane had been spotted by a police patrol about 11.10pm, December 13, 2022, driving erratically and swerving “all over the road” on Ruthven St south, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told on January 25.

After he was stopped by police, the 22-year-old blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.162.

The self-represented Crane pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor, and he was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for six months. No conviction was recorded.