Decade-old incident catches up with elderly caravanner

AN ELDERLY man has appeared in a North Queensland court charged with drink-driving in a caravan park following an encounter with other holidaymakers well over a decade ago.

Allister Campbell, appearing in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, pleaded guilty to the sole charge of driving over the general alcohol limit, at the Googarra Beach Caravan Park at Tully Heads on July 10, 2010.

Police prosecutor Sergeant

Rachel Todd said police were called to reports of a disturbance at the camping park and reports of a man attempting to tow his caravan from the grounds at 8.40pm.

She said the defendant, who smelled strongly of liquor, told police that he was driving because his wife could not reverse the caravan.

He recorded a BAC reading of 0.082. Campbell said he had nothing to say for his actions other than there “was no excuse, I guess”.

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said he could not accept that it was an early plea, given the length of time that had passed.

He said that while Campbell had only driven a short distance it was still legally defined as a road.

“I just thought it was private property,” the defendant replied. “I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”

Campbell, who had an otherwise impeccable traffic history, said he now understood that was not the case.

He was convicted, fined $750 and disqualified from driving for one month.