Drink-driver has never had licence

A NORTH Queensland driver who has never held a licence has been busted driving close to three times over the general alcohol limit with three women in his car.

Appearing in the Ingham Magistrates Court on October 7, Russell Gene White, 28, admitted to driving without a licence and drink-driving on Macdonald St about midnight on Thursday, September 9.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd said an Ingham Police patrol stopped White’s vehicle but when they approached the door there was no one sitting in the driver’s seat.

White (pictured) was sitting in the front passenger seat and the three women were in the back of the vehicle, she said.

Ms Todd said White admitted to driving the vehicle and was taken to Ingham Police Station where he recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.131 per cent, well above the general-alcohol limit of 0.05 per cent.

Defence lawyer Margaret Crowther said her client, a father of a five-year-old child, had a prior drink-drive conviction for riding his bicycle in 2018.

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said he was concerned about the danger White posed to others given the high reading, compounded by the fact he had never held a licence.

White was convicted, fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for six months.

“If you want to drive on the road two things: first, when your six months is up apply for a licence and if you do get your licence then you understand that the consumption of alcohol and getting behind the wheel is something that requires extreme caution,” Mr Luxton said.