Magistrate laments ‘rampant’ offences
AN EXASPERATED magistrate has lamented the staggering number of drinkdriving defendants listed in the Ingham court on a single day.
“Offences of this nature (in this jurisdiction) seem to be rampant, with people returning very high readings,” Magistrate Stephen Mosch told Kevin John Alford.
The magistrate had earlier congratulated the man for still being alive after he chose to drive nearly five times over the legal allowable alcohol limit and crashed his vehicle into a ditch on his way to Ingham for a “nip of tequila” at 6pm on Saturday, July 4.
In total, 22 people were listed to appear in court on August 6, facing a total of 38 drink or drug-related driving charges.
Alford, of Blackrock and a recidivist drink driver, was placed on nine months’ probation to receive the “help and support you need” after admitting to recording 0.239 after the single-vehicle accident at Warrens Hill.
Police prosecutor Bimal Raut said Ingham Police who attend the accident found the uninjured but intoxicated man continuing his unsteady journey into town by foot.
He urged a sentence of suspended imprisonment to serve as a deterrence.
Representing himself, the disability support pensioner, 50, said his mate had passed away about a month ago and he was looking after his Blackrock property until his family could arrive from Melbourne.
“It was very stupid,” Alford said of his decision to drive.
“I wholeheartedly agree with you,” Mr Mosch said.
Alford said he had suffered a brain injury after what he described as an unprovoked onepunch attack to the back of the head, which required surgery, and that he was on anti-depressants and that he was attempting to undertake steps to curb his alcohol abuse.
Mr Mosch told Alford “perhaps I should start by congratulating you on being alive”. “In some respects it is luck you are not joining your friend.”