P-plater facing a big stint off road

A P-PLATER who fled a crash scene to avoid a breath test after a shocking three-week string of driving offences has been handed probation and could lose his licence for up to 18 months.

Marc Stuart Bruce PotterWalker, 22, was found in the driver’s seat of a car that was crashed into a ditch off the Gillies Range in late March.

But the Cairns Magistrates Court heard before he could be breath tested he fled into nearby bushland with police unable to follow and remained “on the run” for days before his arrest.

The court heard the incident came just three weeks after he was busted twice behind the wheel in 24 hours – once drink-driving and not in his own vehicle which is fitted with an interlock, and the following day unlicensed after police suspended his licence for 24 hours.

“It was a very large mistake which led you into enormous difficulty now,” Magistrate Catherine Benson said.

The court heard PotterWalker was originally caught on March 6 driving a friend home from the pub with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 – illegal for a P-plater. He was also driving the wrong vehicle as he was meant to be in one fitted with an interlock.

Defence solicitor Carly Fernando said he had driven to the pub to help a friend who he had been told was in a “racial fight”. “He has gone there sober, but made the poor decision to have a couple of drinks and drive home,” she said.

The following day he was pulled over on Sheridan St, telling police he was driving to his brother’s place despite having his licence suspended for 24 hours the day before.

Magistrate Benson sentenced him to six months parole, fined him $350 and said the Department of Transport and Main Roads would suspend his licence for between nine and 18 months.