Named, shamed: Drink or drug drivers who lost their licence before Toowoomba courts in July 2025

Live list: Each month, dozens of Toowoomba drivers front court for drink or drug driving. Here’s a list of locals who’ve lost their licences for the offence so far this month.

The concept of alcohol driving crime - closeup of young male driver hands with steering wheel and bottle of beer. Drink driving generic. Picture: iSTOCK

During the first week of July, a number of people lost their licences after fronting the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on drink or drug driving charges.

While dozens fronted court on pending drink or drug driving charges, here’s a list of those who have been sentenced for the offence before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court this month so far:

CONVICTION RECORDED

Brett Raymond Pearson

Charge: Drug driving; unlicensed driving

The former jockey appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 17 pleading guilty to two drug driving offences and one unlicensed driving charge.

The court heard Pearson was intercepted along James Street at 9.20am on August 8, 2024 where he returned a positive roadside drug test.

Pearson was on a probationary licence at the time and on probation for other offending.

He told police he had not taken any illicit substances but had consumed medicinal cannabis, prescribed the previous day, and had recently been around meth smokers.

Further tests found THC and methamphetamine in his saliva.

Pearson was also stopped driving down Kate Street at 8.14am on New Year's Day this year where he again returned a positive drug test.

Pearson confessed to recently using illicit substances, with tests revealing he had methamphetamine, THC and cocaine in his saliva.

Pearson was unlicensed at the time due to a demerit point suspension.

Solicitor Claire Graham said Pearson dealt with chronic pain and, as such, had been prescribed medicinal cannabis for around 18 months; however, added he was aware he still could not drive while taking the substance.

Ms Graham further argued Pearson should be spared a long disqualification period as he was required to remain off the road since he was charged in January this year.

Pearson was fined a total of $1400 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for 14 months.

Convictions were recorded.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

Grayson Nash Bentley

Charge: Drink driving

While driving down Bothwell Street in Toowoomba on the night of May 28, Bentley found himself in trouble with the law.

The Toowoomba electrician pleaded guilty to low range drink driving on Thursday, July 17 before Toowoomba Magistrates Court after returning a blood alcohol reading of 0.077.

Prosecution said Bentley told police he had consumed three pints of beer and one rum drink during the day.

Solicitor Brad Skuse said Bentley had miscalculated his ability to drive and now realised he had made a poor choice.

He added there was no accusation that Bentley was driving erratically.

Mr Skuse requested the court grant a special licence, allowing Bentley to drive for work purposes under strict rules, as a complete ban would make it impossible to undertake work.

Bentley was fined $600, disqualified from the road for two months and granted a restricted work licence.

No conviction was recorded.

Samantha Jean Bond

Charge: Drink driving

Bond was driving through Toowoomba’s CBD in the early hours of Saturday, July 5, when police caught her drink driving.

A court heard Bond returned a positive roadside test around 12.25am and soon after recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.054 – just over the legal limit.

She appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 17, pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit.

Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said Bond told officers she had consumed one espresso martini around 5 hours before driving.

Bond clarified through her lawyer that she had drunk more throughout the day, but the martini was her last drink of the night.

She was fined $300 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for one month.

No conviction was recorded.

Mark Peter Hollingsworth

Charge: Drink driving

Hollingsworth was travelling along the New England Highway on June 3, when he was caught driving over the middle limit.

He fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 1, and pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol limit of 0.104.

Police prosecutor Kinsley Weir said Hollingsworth told officers he was on his way to his mates at 4.20pm after consuming four heavy beers at home.

She said his traffic history showed he’d been done for drink driving in the past.

Hollingsworth told the court he thought he was OK to drive and apologised to the court.

He was fined $550 and his licence was suspended for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

Jason Daniel Kerr

Charge: Drug driving

Kerr was pulled over by Toowoomba police in a Bunnings car park on May 21 at 10.30am, when he was caught with a cocktail of drugs in his system.

Police prosecutor Kinsley Weir said Kerr, who had cocaine and meth in his system, admitted to police that he had used drugs a few days earlier.

Kerr pleaded guilty to the crime before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 1, where he was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one month.

No conviction was recorded.

David Robert Baker

Charge: Drink driving

Baker was intercepted by police while travelling along Stephen St in Toowoomba on May 28 at 6.20pm.

Police prosecutor Kinsley Weir his blood alcohol reading was 0.062.

She said he had no criminal history and a limited traffic history.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 1, Baker pleaded guilty to drink driving, where he was fined $250 and disqualified from driving for one month.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Named, shamed: Drink or drug drivers who lost their licence before Toowoomba courts in July 2025