Cowboys youngster on road unlicensed

NORTH Queensland Cowboys young gun Gideon Mosby drove without a licence because he wanted to pop down to his local bottle shop, a court has heard.

Mosby, who also goes by the surname of Gela-Mosby, fronted Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving as a repeat offender.

It was the first time Mosby had appeared in relation to the charge after failing to attend court in June, prompting a warrant to be issued. He presented a letter excusing his appearance at a second mention last week.

Magistrate Steven Mosch revoked the earlier warrant when the 21-year-old winger showed up in court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Adrian Carter told the court Mosby was pulled over on Kern Brothers Dr about 10.40am on May 18. He said when Mosby was stopped he told police he did not have his licence on him.

“(Officers) confirmed his identity and confirmed he had a learners class licence that had expired on April 22,” he said. “(Mosby) stated he was unaware his licence had expired; he was just ‘hopping’ to the local bottle shop.”

His defence lawyer put the offending down to a lack of organisation as his previous licence had expired only four weeks before he was pulled over by police. The court heard it was Mosby’s second offence for unlicensed driving in the past year.

In August 2017, Mosby was fined $250 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for six months after he was caught driving on The Strand after losing his licence due to demerit points.

Mr Mosch said Mosby was legally able to obtain a licence at the time of his latest offence and had simply let it expire.

Mr Mosch fined Mosby $350 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for one month.