July 11, 2013
A Kingaroy man described as “the worst of the worst” traffic offenders was sentenced to jail when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court today charged with a string of offences.
Mark Anthony Chalker pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving an uninsured and unregistered vehicle, and driving with false plates.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said Chalker had a “horrific” traffic history, including 18 previous disqualified driving charges and had previously been sentenced to jail for the same offence.
Solicitor Mark Werner, for Chalker, conceded his client had a “very poor” history. However he said Chalker was on a disability pension because he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a terminal condition.
He said the latest offences occurred because he was trying to shift house, and the truck that was to turn up had not arrived.
Chalker had panicked, he said, because his and his children’s possessions were out on the street, so he drove a short distance to find the truck driver’s brother.
“He was somewhat unlucky that police were there,” Mr Werner said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said Chalker had 21 prior offences of driving while he was not authorised, including 18 previous “disqualified by court” charges.
“It is the worst history I have ever seen,” he said. “You are the worst of the worst offenders.”
Mr Bucknall said Chalker’s history outweighed any medical condition or mitigating circumstances; the only option was imprisonment.
Chalker was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, with a parole release date of January 11, 2014. He was disqualified from driving for three years (to be added to whatever disqualification periods he currently had) and fined $750.
Glen Brian Duggan, 37, entered no plea and was remanded in custody to September 26.
Police prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell told the court he had been advised by Queensland Health that a toxicology report required for the case could take “between six and 12 months” to produce.
He said the cause of death was going to be a significant factor in the case.
Solicitor Ms Caroline Cavanagh said the defence was looking to have Duggan assessed by a forensic psychiatrist while in custody.
The man appeared via videolink from Maryborough Correctional Facility.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall directed that “case conferencing” take place between the prosecution and defence before this date.
Brendon John Jackson was granted bail on a number of charges in Kingaroy Magistrates Court earlier this year.
Police prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said Jackson was supposed to reside at a residence on Nanango-Tarong Road, however this address did not exist.
“Clearly he misled the court to obtain bail,” Sgt Bushell said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said he remembered the case; he said the promise of work and somewhere to live were the “tipping points” that led to bail being granted.
Solicitor Mark Werner, for Jackson, said his client had continued to report to police but had failed to notify them that he had changed address. Mr Werner said Jackson had in fact lived in “the shed” for about two weeks before moving.
Jackson was sentenced to a three months’ jail, with a parole release date of August 25.
Other charges against him were adjourned to October 31.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said these “morning after” drink-driving offences were becoming all too common and should be publicised.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall agreed, saying the usual “rule of thumb” was to leave at least 12 hours after the last drink before driving a car.
He suggested if people were planning to drink at night, they should leave their car at home, or purchase a personal breathalyser.
The driver was disqualified for one month and fined $450.
