Toowoomba court: Mitchell Bower at risk of jail for repeatedly driving unlicensed

A Toowoomba tradesman, who had a warrant out for his arrest, was brought before court after he was found driving with cardboard number plates just three days after his licence was taken from him for two years.

Mitchell Kalvin Bower, 20, leaving the Toowoomba Courthouse on October 30, 2023, after pleading guilty to a number of traffic offences which almost landed him with a jail term.

Darling Downs man Mitchell Kalvin Bower received a stern warning from a Toowoomba magistrate that he would face a term of imprisonment if he returned to court for unlicensed driving offences.

At Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, October 30, a warrant for Bower’s arrest was recalled and cancelled before he pleaded guilty to four driving charges.

The court was told just three days after the 20-year-old was sentenced in court for unlicensed driving at Warwick Magistrates Court, he was caught driving – this time with cardboard number plates.

Mitchell Kalvin Bower, 20, leaving the Toowoomba Courthouse on October 30, 2023, after pleading guilty to a number of traffic offences which almost landed him with a jail term.

Police prosecutor Bettina Trenear said Bower was intercepted by police at Allora on August 17.

Ms Trenear said Bower told officers he was driving to Warwick for car parts and to talk to his stepdad, who would only speak to him in person.

The court was told police took Bower’s number plates in August and put a notice on the vehicle, however the concreter removed the police confiscation notice and created makeshift cardboard plates.

Bower said he recently moved to Toowoomba to live with his pregnant partner, and the temptation to drive was removed as his ute was repossessed.

Magistrate Louise Shephard told Bower the consequences of his offending had moved beyond a fine, and if he was back before the court for similar offending he would likely face a jail term.

Bower pleaded guilty to driving without a licence which was disqualified by a court order for two years, driving a car subjected to a number plate confiscation, removing, modifying, or tampering with a number plate confiscation notice, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

He was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service to be completed within 12 months, fined $500, and disqualified from driving for two years.