May 24, 2012
Two Burrandowan racegoers appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court today after they fell foul of the law when they believed they were sober after having a night’s sleep at the bushtrack and enjoying breakfast.
The first blew .153 at 8:09am and the second .052 at 9:34am. Both were stopped for random breath tests on the Kingaroy-Burrandowan Road on the morning after the races.
The first driver, Christina Cameron said she had slept for seven hours and was very surprised by the reading. She told Magistrate B.D. Barrett that if she lost her licence, she would probably lose her job.
However Mr Barrett said the alcohol level was above the range that would allow her to apply for a work licence so that was not an option. He fined her $900 and disqualified her from driving for six months.
The second driver told the court she was truly ashamed. She thought that by stopping drinking early, having a night’s rest and then having breakfast she would be right. But she wasn’t. She was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said this type of “morning after” offence had become a common occurrence at this time of the year.
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Alcohol isn’t the only thing that can bring you undone on the Kingaroy-Burrandowan Road.
Scott Newton pleaded guilty in Kingaroy Magistrates Court today to driving while under the influence of a drug.
A roadside test on November 12 last year detected cannabis and methamphetamine in his saliva.
Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said Newton had admitted taking drugs in the previous 24 hours.
The defendant told the court he had been attending “a big festival” out of town.
He was fined $600 and disqualified for driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.
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A woman who attempted to steal a plastic charity box from a Brisbane bank branch pleaded guilty when she appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates’ Court today.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said Jessica Coolwell had a history of dishonesty offences. He said stealing from a charity was a “deplorable offence” so jail should be considered as punishment.
Defence solicitor Babu Singh, for Coolwell, said she had been depressed and wanted to go to Maryborough. She had entered the bank to check her balance but became upset when she discovered she only had $7.00. As she was walking out she saw the money box.
Magistrate Barrett fined Coolwell $750 and warned her any further dishonesty offences would lead to imprisonment. A conviction was recorded.
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A Ballogie man who dozed off while driving home, hitting a motorcycle, was warned the consequences could have been a lot worse when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court today.
Nicholas Pryor was charged with driving without due care and attention over the incident which occurred on the Bunya Highway on April 9.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said Pryor had admitted falling asleep at the wheel and woke up just as he was about to hit the motorbike.
He said Pryor had a good traffic history but the incident could have become a very serious traffic accident.
The motorbike ended up running off the road and the female rider suffered pain and bruising and was taken to hospital.
Pryor, who was unrepresented, told the court he had a nine-month-old daughter who was teething at the time so he was not getting very much sleep. He also had the heater turned on in his vehicle, which had been a mistake. He said he had paid for the damages to the woman’s motorbike.
Magistrate Barrett fined Pryor $500 and ordered him to pay $78.50 court costs.
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A 22-year-old Springfield Lakes man who “gyrated” against a female police officer’s leg and then later spat on her boot was placed on a nine month probation order when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates’ Court today.
Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said police had attended a Thelma Street, Kingaroy, address after a noise complaint and while they were talking to another person, Kerrod Orme had began to gyrate towards the female office.
Sgt Bushell said Orme had shown “total disrespect” and “utter contempt” to police and his behaviour was totally unacceptable. He said he should go to jail.
Duty solicitor Angela Taylor said Orme had no memory of the events and had been drinking heavily. He had been in town for the Kingaroy Show long weekend. She said the incident was “very out of character” for him.
Magistrate Barrett recorded a conviction and told Orme he had issues that needed to be addressed.
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A Proserpine man travelling to Kingaroy to face seven charges has had his bail revoked – and earned another three charges – after becoming “stupidly drunk” because it was State of Origin night.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Bushell told the court Darren Graham Sorensen was pulled over by police in Nanango last night. Charges of driving without a licence, driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving while adversely affected were added to the other charges that he was heading to court to face.
Sorensen pleaded from the dock that he had only been drinking because it was State of Origin.
However Magistrate Barrett said Sorensen could not show cause to his satisfaction as to why his bail should not be revoked. He was formally refused bail on the three new charges and his current bail revoked. He was remanded in custody to re-appear in court on June 28.
