Former Logan City mayor Luke Smith caught drink driving while on suspended sentence for corruption

A former mayor who previously pleaded guilty to corruption in public office has since been caught drink driving more than four times over the legal limit, a court was told.

Former Logan City mayor Luke Smith will spend an extra 12 months under supervision after he was caught drink driving more than four times over the legal limit while on a suspended sentence for corruption while he was in public office.

The former councillor, whose full name is Timothy Luke Smith, was sentenced in March 2023 after pleading guilty to one count each of secret commission, misconduct in relation to public office and the obligation of a councillor to make public their own interest.

Former Logan City mayor Luke Smith will sere an extra 12 months on his suspended sentence after being caught drink driving. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Crown prosecutor James Bishop told Brisbane District Court on Monday the former mayor had been caught drink driving on September 9, 2023 – six months after he was given a two year wholly suspended sentence in March last year.

Mr Bishop said Smith was later sentenced for the high range drink driving offence, after he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.204.

The court was told police had been patrolling Loganholme about 5.30am on September 9, 2023, when officers observed Smith’s car was speeding.

Mr Bishop said Smith told police he’d had “two stubbies” before blowing more than four times over the legal limit.

The court was told Smith was convicted and sentenced in September.

He was ordered to a pay $1300 fine and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Mr Bishop requested Smith’s two year suspended sentence for his corruption in public office be extended by a further 12 months.

The former mayor previously pleaded guilty to corruption allegations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The court was told Smith was also ordered to serve 120 hours of community service, which he has since completed more than 76 hours.

Smith, who self represented himself in court on Monday, said he accepted the Crown’s case to extend his suspended sentence.

He also handed up several medical reports and letters of support to the court.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Michael Burnett ordered Smith’s suspended sentence be extended by 12 months, meaning he must comply with the order until March 6, 2026.

Mr Burnett said it would be “a disproportionate response to activate the whole of the suspended sentence” for a drink driving matter as the offending is not the same as Smith’s corruption convictions.

Former Logan City mayor Luke Smith was caught drink driving more than four times the legal limit. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Burnett said while Smith was caught drink driving, it was clear from the medical reports he was somewhat responding to rehabilitation after admitting he had a problem with alcohol.

In March 2023, Smith plead guilty after he received a boat in Woolgoolga from a party trying to influence his mayoral position in council between July 22, 2016, and September 10, 2016.

He’d also used his influence in council to favour the recruitment process between June 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017 to hire a specific person in order to benefit that person.

Smith had been subject to a lengthy Crime and Corruption Commission’s investigation into Queensland councils in March 2018.

The state’s corruption watchdog had held a series of public hearings in 2017 exploring the conduct of councillors from several southeast Queensland councils, including Logan City.

Originally published as Former Logan City mayor Luke Smith caught drink driving while on suspended sentence for corruption