Scone Court Report: August 2019

MAGISTRATE Hugh Donnelly presided at Scone Local Court this month and is the new Magistrate for the Newcastle circuit, which now includes Scone Local Court. Magistrate Donnelly mentioned to several people who came before him that 18 percent of road fatalities involve alcohol, which he described as a “sobering reality”.

Matters before Scone Local Court this month included:

BARNETT, Daniel, a 21 year old from Tamworth failed to appear for a charge of goods suspected stolen in/on premises. The offence is alleged to have occurred on April 13 at Murrurundi when police pulled over a vehicle Mr Barnett was a passenger in. The police statement of facts noted, “the accused has a lengthy criminal history and is well known to police. The accused is unemployed and continues to commit crime. The accused is currently before the Courts for several other offences.” Police searched the vehicle Mr Barnett was a passenger in and located several knives, a bag containing a white Apple Macbook with a sticker reading “K/1 2001, 5,6, – 2012, yr 1 2014” and police suspected it was the property of a school and had been stolen. Police also found a Dell laptop with a sticker “CDS – Tamworth”, which police also suspected stolen. Mr Barnett claimed the bag containing the laptops belonged to a friend of his, Daniel, who was in Tamworth, but was unable to provide any further information to identify Daniel. “Checks on the accused revealed information that led police to suspect the laptops were going to be used in the transaction of purchasing drugs.” The laptops were seized and police “have not been contacted by any Daniel claiming to be the rightful owner.” The Magistrate noted warrants had been issued for Mr Barnett on August 5 and Mr Barnett had others matters to be heard in Tamworth Court. The Magistrate convicted Mr Barnett in his absence and adjourned the matter to Tamworth court for sentencing on September 17.

BARRETT, Darren James, a 49 year old from Kurri Kurri pled not guilty to a charge of not keep of centre two-way road-no class B/C vehicle. The alleged offence occurred on the New England Highway at Blandford on June 16 at 3:15pm. The matter was adjourned until September 19 for mention.   

BESTER, James Alexander Russell, a 63 year old from Scone had a charge of exceed speed by more than 20 kilometres an hours. The alleged offence occurred on June 9 at approximately 11am on Kelly Street, Scone. The matter was adjourned until September 19.

BYRNE, Mathew Paul, a 46 year old from Murrurundi pled guilty to a charge of common assault relating to an incident on June 14 in Murrurundi. The matter was adjourned for hearing on November 22.  

CAMPBELL, Matthew Jade, a 43 year old from Murulla made an appeal of a decision of the Roads and Maritime Services. The offence which triggered the licence suspension occurred on June 9 when Mr Campbell exceeded the speed limit by 30 kilometres an hour near Warkworth on the Golden Highway.The Magistrate said, “there are serious driving offences on his record and I’m not convinced this is a case where the court should allow an appeal.” Mr Campbell’s solicitor sought a variation to the three month licence suspension and said he had completed the Traffic Offenders Program. The Magistrate said of Mr Campbell’s driving, “travelling that speed in that area is completely unacceptable.” The licence suspension was reduced to two months. The Magistrate cautioned Mr Campbell that it will be on his record that there was a partial extension of leniency and urged him to “reflect on how you drive”.

CARROLL, Kimberley, a 28 year old from Scone appeared in court to seek an application to quash two habitual offender declarations. The Magistrate noted Ms Carroll had been off the road due to “not paying fines rather than driving” and said, “the overall time off the road is proportionate and just and any more would be disproportionate and unjust.” Both declarations were quashed.   

DYKES, Andrew Roy, a 34 year old from Aberdeen appeared and had pled guilty to a charge of drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol – first offence. The alleged offence occurred on June 23 on the New England Highway in Scone when Mr Dykes returned a reading of 0.159. He came to the attention of police when he was driving with his high beam lights on, including the LED style light bar within 200metres. Police pulled Mr Dykes over and noticed signs of intoxication. Mr Dykes was given a breath test and returned a reading of 0.159. Mr Dykes said he had consumed at least six or seven beers and at least two cans of bourbon between 3pm and 7pm and did not consume any food. Mr Dykes had completed the Traffic Offenders Program and had no prior criminal record. The Magistrate said driving with high beams on can be “blinding and a difficult situation for everybody he passed” and further noted that 18 percent of fatalities which occur on the roads involve alcohol. Mr Dykes was fined $1,500, disqualified from driving for 6 months and is to have a mandatory interlock period of two years. The Magistrate concluded, “the class of drivers who drink and drive are high risk on the road.”

EDMONDS, Kyle Andrew, a 30 from Merriwa pled guilty to charges of drive with middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol – first offence, not comply with P1 licence – no P plates nd not produce Australian licence, state name, address. The offences occurred on June 9 at approximately 12:58am on Langley Street Merriwa. Mr Edmonds returned a reading of 0.126. Police had observed Mr Edmond’s car bounce as it drove over a decline and driving at speed. Police activated their lights and sirens and followed the vehicle. Mr Edmonds then attempted to ran from police, but was apprehended and submitted to a breath test. Mr Edmonds told police “I didn’t see you until I came to a stop, but I got such a rush when I ran from you.” Mr Edmonds told police he had been drinking since 12pm until he was pulled over by police some 12 hours later. He admitted to drinking a range of alcoholic drinks and said he had driven to the Hotel to find his cigarettes but the Hotel was closed. The police said, “the accused was not remorseful in his actions and stated he had done this before in the past.” Mr Edmonds is to attend the Traffic Offenders Program and the matters were adjourned until October 24.

EDWARDS, Tammy Louise, a 49 year old from Edgeworth, appeared in court and pled guilty to charges of exceed speed limit by more than 20 km/hr and drive – never licenced. The offence occurred on May 31 at approximately 12:15am on Macqueen Street, Aberdeen, when Ms Edwards was travelling at more than 70km/hr in a 50km/hr zone and was driving without a licence. The Magistrate said he was interested in making sure the offence did not reoccur and the best way to ensure that was for Ms Edwards to obtain a licence, “get a valid licence and come back to the court,”…“if you get a licence that suits everybody.” The matter was adjourned until September 19.

EVELEIGH, Brenda Joy, a 55 year old from Castle Rock pled not guilty to a charge of steal property as clerk/servant greater than $15,000. Ms Eveleigh is alleged to have stolen $49,352.28 worth of property of McLean Mechanical of Scone between October 2, 2015 and March 24, 2016. The matter was adjourned for mention on September 19.

FLAHERTY, Elizabeth, a 45 year old from Scone appealed a decision by the Roads and Maritime Authority. Ms Flaherty pled guilty to a charge of drive unregistered vehicle, with explanation. The offence occurred in Aberdeen Street, Muswellbrook on December 15, 2018. Ms Flaherty explained to the Magistrate she had obtained a green slip online, but experienced difficulties processing the vehicle registration online. On December 13 Ms Flaherty said she received online notification that the online registration process had been successful and believed the vehicle was registered. Ms Flaherty then drove to Sydney and Canberra before being pulled over by police on her return home, in Muswellbrook on December 15. The Magistrate asked if the registration was now paid. Ms Flaherty confirmed she paid within an hour of being booked and kept several copies of the receipt. The Magistrate said he accepted a processing error had occurred and dismissed the matter.

Editor’s note: While this matter was heard in Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday, July 19, as requested in the Court Attendance Notice by police, as the editor of scone.com.au I have included this matter in the Scone Court Report. On a personal note, I strongly recommend keeping several copies of any “successful payment” notifications from the Roads and Maritime Services website and I was gobsmacked that I wasn’t stopped for driving an unregistered vehicle until my return trip from Canberra in Muswellbrook, knowing the number of police cars with number plate recognition I passed.

GOOCH, Kevin Adam, a 34 year old from Scone pled guilty to charges of drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol – second offence and licence expired less than two years before – first offence. On Saturday, June 1 at approximately 4:35pm police were patrolling Scone and could hear the loud revving of a V8 vehicle. Police then observed a blue coloured vehicle turning right into Liverpool Street from Hill Street. The vehicle was then observed to overtake another vehicle, causing the lead vehicle in oncoming traffic to move to the left of the road to avoid a collision. Police activated their lights and sirens and followed the vehicle. The vehicle turned right into a property on Moobi Road. Police asked the driver to produce his driver’s licence and they observed Mr Gooch’s slow and slurred speech. They breath test Mr Gooch who returned a reading of 0.167. Mr Gooch’s licence had expired in May 2019. Mr Gooch said he had consumed six schooners of Great Northern mid strength beers. He had begun drinking at the Scone Rugby Union Club at 12pm and has his last drink at 4:15pm and did not consume food during this time. Mr Gooch had completed the traffic offenders program and a sentencing assessment report. The matter was adjourned until October.

GREENALL, Vicky, a 48 year old from Scone appeared on a charge of drive with middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol – first offence, learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester and Learner driver not display “L” plates as prescribed. The alleged offence occurred on April 7 on the New England Highway in Scone at approximately 2:45am when Ms Greenall failed to dip her high beam lights. Police pulled Ms Greenall over and observed intoxication. Police performed a breath test and Ms Greenall returned a reading of 0.118. She told police she had consumed six mid-strength beers between 10pm and 1:30am. The Magistrate noted Ms Greenall had no traffic history in New South Wales, however Ms Greenhall had a Victorian licence, but no record was available to the court. The Magistrate noted Ms Greenhall was an L plater and that this matter was “not a very good start.” The matter was adjourned to Muswellbrook on September 2, when the Victorian driving record can be made available.

GRIFFITHS, Adam Christopher, a 35 year old from Scone appeared in court and pled guilty to a charge of refuse or fail to submit to breath test and drive with middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol – first offence. The offences occurred on October 8 at approximately 11:45pmon Birrel Street, Scone when Mr Griffiths returned a reading of 0.126. Police asked Mr Griffiths to submit to a random breath test and he responded, “I don’t want to”, police explained it was an offence not to supply a sample of his breath for analysis, to which he said, “I am not going to do it.” Police placed Mr Griffiths under arrest and took him back to Scone Police Station and after being observed for 15 minutes was given a breath test. Mr Griffiths told police he had been drinking at the Belmore Hotel since 2pm and consumed an unknown amount of alcohol. Mr Griffiths had 19 offences on his driving record, but no prior criminal record. The solicitor for Mr Griffiths said being placed in custody, was a “sobering experience” for him. The Magistrate noted he had completed the Traffic Offenders Program and pled guilty to the charge early. The Magistrate said in 18 percent of all road fatalities there is alcohol involved and “that is a sobering fact about driving.” Mr Griffiths was fined $600, for fail to submit to a breath test and for the mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol was fined $800, disqualified from driving for four months and will have an interlock period of 12 months.

GRIMSHAW, Alison Marshall, a 40 year old from Gundy appeared in court to appeal a decision by the Roads and Maritime Services for suspension of licence due to exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km an hour, which occurred on April 8 on Segenhoe Road, Segenhoe. The police had reports of a vehicle excessively speeding on the road at the same time each day and at the start of their speed check found Ms Grimshaw to be travelling at 130km/hr and the radar locked on at 127km/hr. Ms Grimshaw told police she was running late for work and police told her they were specifically there because of reports of speeding at the same time on a daily basis. Ms Grimshaw had completed the Traffic Offenders Program and Magistrate Donnelly noted Ms Grimshaw only had one offence in 24 years, but said “the speed you were travelling was totally unacceptable”. Based on Mr Grimshaw’s otherwise good character and good driving record the appeal was allowed. However, Magistrate Donnelly cautioned the matter would be on her record and “next time there will be no such approach.”

HAWKSHAW, Jack William, a 22 year old from Scone pled not guilty to a charge of destroy or damage property. The alleged offence occurred on June 18 at approximately 6:20pm when Mr Hawkshaw intentionally or recklessly destroyed a glass panel of a sliding door. The matter was set down for hearing on November 22.

HENLEY, Alexander Stuart, a 20 year old from Murrurundi appeared on a charge of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period – second offence, use unregistered registerable vehicle and motor bike rider not wear/secure approved helmet. The alleged offences occurred on October 3 at approximately 7:05pm at Murrurundi when Mr Henley was stopped by police when he was riding a Viper Mountain Bike fitted with an after-market combustion engine on the footpath of Mayne Street. The matter was adjourned until October 24 with a plea to be entered.

JOHNSEN, Benjamin Michael, a 30 year old from Moobi appeared in court on charges of not keep firearm safely – not prohibited firearm/weapon and not keep firearm safely – not prohibited firearm/pistol and guilty to a charge of possess prohibited drug. The alleged offences occurred on April 30 in Willow Tree when Mr Johnsen was in possession of a 0.223 calibre Sako firearm and a 0.22 calibre Puma which police alleged was not kept safely. The matter was part-heard in Tamworth Court on August 22 and is set to continue in Tamworth.

KIEM, Dylan James, a 26 year old from Muswellbrook appeared and pled guilty to charges of possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug small and indictable quantity, goods in custody suspected stolen, possess suspected proceeds, money/property less than $100,000 and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended. On February 11 at approximately 11:15 am police conducted a check on Mr Kiem’s vehicle while they were in a line of traffic and their records showed the driver of the vehicle had a suspended licence. Police pulled over Mr Kiem and he admitted to having a suspended licence. Police noted Mr Kiem seemed nervous and asked him if there was anything in the vehicle and he stated, “yeah, just a small amount of pot”. Police conducted a search and found $1,700 in his wallet, which he claimed was from Centrelink. Police asked if he could produce a receipt, but Mr Kiem did not answer them. Police asked who owned a grey back pack in his car to which he replied “not me”. Police asked where the pot was and he replied “in the middle pocket” of the backpack. Police located a large bag of pot, weighing 411.65 grams and several small bags of pot weighing 2 grams. Police removed a black bag from the back pack and found a set of scales, more pot and an ice pipe. Police also located a lock box which contained three bundles of $50 notes totaling $1,000 and another bundle of $650 with nine $50 notes and ten $20 notes. Mr Kiem said shortly after 8am he had given an unknown man, who he couldn’t describe, a lift down Kelly Street to Coles. He told police the unknown male had offered him some pot and showed him the contents of the back pack. The unknown male left the bag in Mr Kiem’s car and went into Coles at approximately 9am. Mr Kiem then told police he drove to Guernsey Street to catch Pokemon, before being stopped by police.  When pressed for details, Mr Kiem was unable to account for the approximately two hours between dropping the unknown man off and being pulled over by police. Police asked Mr Kiem if he thought it was odd an unknown man would leave pot and large quantities of cash with him, to which Mr Kiem did not answer. He then claimed the cash was from the sale of a car, however he had no receipt, details of the person he sold it to or transfer papers. Eventually he told police he had not sold a car and in relation to his initial story to police he said, “there was no male, it’s mine.” Magistrate Donnelly described the presentence report as “optimistic,” but conceded if Mr Kiem followed it “he would be well on his way.” Mr Kiem received an aggregate sentence of 14 months imprisonment to be served as an intensive correction order and 120 hours community service. On the charge of drive motor vehicle while licence suspended he was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for three months.

KNOBBS, Riley, a 17 year old from Murrurundi appealed a licence suspension notice. Ms Knobbs had exceeded the speed limit by more than 10 kilometres an hour on June 17, which had caused her licence to be suspended as a P1 driver. Mr Knobbs will complete the traffic offenders program and the matter was adjourned until October 24.  

LANE, James Preston, a 60 year old from Murrurundi appeared before the court and pled guilty to a charge of drive with low range prescribed concentration of alcohol. The offence occurred on July 27 at approximately 7:05pm on Mayne Street, Murrurundi, when Mr Lane returned a reading of 0.063. Mr Lane told police he had consumed two schooners of Toohey’s New within 15 minutes and a total of three schooners at the Royal Hotel in Murrurundi. Magistrate Donnelly noted there had been a seven year gap in offences, questioned if there was an underlying issue with alcohol and was otherwise of good character, but said, “you forfeited your right to drive through your own conduct”. Mr Lane was convicted, fined $600 fine and disqualified from driving for five months.

LANE, Melissa, a 44 year old from Mogo had previously pled not guilty to charges of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and possess/attempt to prescribed restricted substance. The alleged offences occurred between 2:25pm and 3pm on October 16 at Gungal when Ms Lane was found driving and had in her possession a prescribed restricted substance which was 35 tablets of SIFROL. Ms Lane failed to appear and was convicted in her absence. The matter was adjourned until September 19. 

LEVEN, Tiffany Maree, a 28 year old from Aberdeen pled guilty to a charge of drive motor vehicle while licence suspended – first offence. The offence occurred on July 7 at approximately 2:43pm on the New England Highway at Murrurundi. Ms Leven was given a community release order for 12 months, without conviction and is to complete the traffic offenders program.

MARTIN, Clancy, a 17 year old from Merriwa appeared in court to appeal a licence suspension by the Roads and Maritime Services for using his mobile phone while driving on April 18.  Mr Martin will complete the traffic offenders program and the matter was adjourned until October 19.

MCDOUGALL, Steven, a 35 year old from Scone failed to appear on two charges of dishonestly obtain property by deception and one charge of destroy or damage property less than $2,000. The offences occurred on January 19 at approximately 5:43am in Scone, when Mr McDougall used a Commonwealth Bank of Australia card to purchase two bottles of Dare milk an a packet of cigarettes to a value of $56.45 at the Tobacco Service Group on Maitland Street, Muswellbrook. Mr McDougall also used the card at approximately 6:12am the same day to purchase a mobile phone at the value of $79 at Coles in Muswellbrook. Mr McDougall entered a written plea of guilty for intentionally destroy or damage property occurred on April 23 at approximately 3:30pm at Maitland when Mr McDougall damaged the glass door panel of a property belonging to Housing New South Wales. Mr McDougall was convicted in his absence and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

ORR, Joshua, a 20 year old from Scone pled not guilty to break enter dwelling – house etc with intent. The alleged offence occurred on January 9 at approximately 12pm on Gundy Road, Scone. The matter was adjourned until September 19, with bail to continue.

OWENS, Tobias Glenn, a 23 year old from Edgeroi had a charge of not comply with P2 licence condition not display P plates, which occurred on April 27 on Kelly Street, Scone. Mr Owens was convicted and fined $400.  

PALMER, Carl Lincoln, a 38 year old from Scone appeared in court and pled guilty to charges of possess prohibited drug and resist or hinder police officer in execution of duty. The offences occurred on May 11 at approximately 12:35am in Scone, when Mr Palmer was found in possession of 3.35grams of cannabis. The vehicle Mr Palmer was a passenger in was stopped for a random breath test. When the vehicle was stopped by police, Mr Palmer exited the rear of the car and in an “aggressive state” and walked towards the police vehicle. Police described Mr Palmer in a “verbal tirade of abuse”, yelling and swearing “come on then, you’se cunts, you’se are all fucked.” The police explained to Mr Palmer they would charge him for offensive language if he continued and said they  wanted to conduct a random breath test and had no interest in the accused. Mr Palmer continued swearing at the police. Mr Palmer kept interrupting police as they tried to perform the breath test. Police conducted a search of the vehicle and located a small plastic bag containing cannabis. When police were questioning Mr Palmer about the cannabis, he tried to take the cannabis off them and was arrested. Mr Palmer was convicted and fined $200 for possessing the cannabis and given a 12 month community correction order for hinder police.

PALMER, Donna, a 40 year old from Scone made an appeal to the local court for a licencing decision by the Roads and Maritime Services for a suspension of driving licence. The suspension was triggered by exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour. The offence occurred on April 20 on Kayuga Road, Kayuga, when Ms Palmer was in an 80 kilometre zone and was driving at 125 kilometres an hour. Ms Palmer will attend the traffic offenders program and the matter was adjourned until October. 

PEARCE, Jade Elizabeth, a 26 year old from Carrowbrook had a hearing for charges of enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, holder of category A or B licence not have approved, drive with passenger in/on part of vehicle not enclosed an destroy or damage property. The matters were adjourned for hearing on November 22.

PINKERTON, Ashley John, a 39 year old from Parkville pled guilty to a charge of drive with middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol. The offence occurred on April 12 in Wingen, at approximately 11:15pm, when Mr Pinkterton returned a reading of 0.149. Mr Pinkteron told police he had consumed seven schooners of Great Northern beer since 7pm and did not eat any food during that time. Mr Pinkterton had completed the traffic offenders program. Magistrate Donnelly noted there were many offences on Mr Pinkerton’s record, but “I am here to sentence you as a driver.” Mr Pinkerton was fined $1,100, disqualified from driving for four months and has a mandatory interlock period of 12 months.

RAWLING, David Grant, a 39 year old from Scone pled guilty to common assault. The offence occurred on June 17 in Scone. Magistrate Donnelly noted it was Mr Rawling’s first offence of a violent nature but said, “grabbing someone by the throat is just a nasty assault…” Mr Rawlings was given a community release order for 12 months, with supervision. 

ROBBINS, Barry John, a 57 year old from Merriwa pled not guilty to three charges of break and enter house steal value less than $60,000, two counts of larceny valued greater than $5,000, two counts of enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, two counts of destroy or damage property and one count of larceny value greater than $2,000 and one count of enter enclosed building/land with intent to commit indictable offence.

The alleged offences relate to:

• June 11, 2018 – July 12, 2018 at Merriwa: broke into a house on Roma Road, Merriwa and stole pots, pans, knives, forks, pillows, modem, stove top, quad bike, tools, petrol, motorbike and a water tank.
• July 27, 2018 – July 30, 2018 at Merriwa: entered enclosed lands and stole property to the value of $13,599 from a property at Idaville Road, Merriwa including wooden flooring, bearers and joists of a wool shed, the property of MachEnergy.
• July 31, 2018 at Merriwa: entered enclosed lands with intent to commit an indictable offence and did intentionally or recklessly damage property which was a chain lock.
• August 30, 2018 at Somersby: stole property to the value of $2,710 including a portable fridge, tool box with tools, Milwaukee rattle gun, Milwaukee circular saw and a breaker bar.
• November 29, 2018 – December 1, 2018 at Warkworth: entered enclosed lands and stole property to the value of $5,350 including a Bushman water tank, 12 surveillance cameras, corrugated iron sheeting and colour bond panels, the property of Singleton Clay Target Club. It is also alleged Mr Robbins did intentionally or recklessly damage property, being a security chain.
• December 2, 2018 – December 8, 2018 at Merriwa: broke and entered a shed on Roma Road, Merriwa and stole a generator, gas cook top and chainsaw.
• December 12, 2018 – December 14, 2018 at Warkworth: did break and enter the shipping container of the Singleton Clay Target Club and stole Kazuma Mammoth farm buggy, power tools, tools, work bench, gas bottles and a video camera.

The matters were adjourned for mention in September.

RUSSELL, Samuel Leslie, a 29 year old from Quorrobolong entered a written plea of guilty to a charge of drive, licence suspended under section 66 of the fines act. The offence occurred on July 9 at approximately 8:25am in Scone. The matter was adjourned to Cessnock local court in September.

SAUNDERS, Haylee Patricia, a 21 year old from Scone appeared in court and pled guilty to a charge of novice driver drive with novice range prescribed concentration of alcohol – first offence and learner driver not display “L” plates as prescribed. The offences occurred on April 19 when Ms Saunders returned a reading of 0.012 on Kelly Street, Scone. Ms Saunders told police she had consumed one vodka and cola before driving. Ms Saunders had completed the traffic offenders program and had not committed in driving offences in four years. Her solicitor Ben Hoffman noted the low reading of 0.12 equated to one drink. The Magistrate said Ms Saunders was a young driver, with her whole life to drive and had been an excellent driver until that point. Ms Saunders was given a community release order for 12 months. The Magistrate warned that if Ms Saunders breached the order, “it all starts again, so it is important you comply with the order.”

SIMPSON, Gordon Maxwell, a 64 year old from Murrurundi had charges of interlock licence holder – not have approved device installed, drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. The alleged offences occurred on July 31 at approximately 12:30pm on Mount Street, Murrurundi. Mr Simpson returned a breath analysis reading of 0.234. The matter was adjourned until September.

STEEPE, Jason Edward, a 46 year old from Scone pled guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offence occurred on March 30 in Scone at approximately 1:30pm and the weapon was a metal pole. A sentencing assessment report was ordered and the matter was adjourned until October 24.

TAYLOR, Jake, a 23 year old from Aberdeen appeared in court and pled not guilty on a charge of common assault and a charge of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm etc. The alleged assault occurred on August 17 at Scone at approximately 2am. The matter was set down for hearing on November 22.  

WALKER, Nicholas, a 20 from Scone had a charge of common assault. The alleged assault occurred on August 4 at approximately 1am in Scone. The matter was adjourned until September 19.

WARNER, Alexander, a 44 year old from Scone appeared in court and pled guilty to a charge of exceed speed limit by 20 km/hr. The offence occurred on April 18 at approximately 1:43pm on Segenhoe Road, Segenhoe, when Mr Warner was travelling at 108 kilometres an hour in an 80 kilometre zone. Magistrate Donnelly asked Mr Warner’s solicitor, George Fraser, where he placed the offence in terms of the scale of seriousness and Mr Fraser said he was surprised to learn there were 80 kilometre zones on Segenhoe Road. Further explaining he had travelled on the road himself throughout his life and had always known it to be a 100 kilometre speed limit, which was tarred, two-lane. Mr Fraser said Mr Warner had never been to court. Magistrate Donnelly gave Mr Warner at community release order for 6 months, without conviction and reminded him that “there is not right to drive, it is a privilege to drive.”

WATKINS, Gregory Ernest, 62 year old from Coffs Harbour pled not guilty to both enter private land to hunt animal without owner consent and hunt game animal on private/pblic land without consent. The alleged offences occurred on August 22 and February 2 in Murrurundi. The matter was set down for hearing on December 20.

WHITELEY, Jason Michael, 48 year old from Merriwa had pled guilty to a charge of low range drink driving and drive with middle range concentration of alcohol. The first offence occurred on May 15 at approximately 4:30pm on Marquet Street, Merriwa when Mr Whiteley returned a reading of 0.072.  Mr Whiteley told police had had consumed three schooners of light beer at the Royal Hotel and a 750ml long neck of Victoria Bitter. The second offence occurred at approximately 9:20pm the same day, when Mr Whiteley returned a reading of 0.116 on the Golden Highway. When Mr Whiteley exited his vehicle he was observed to be unsteady on his feet and was aggressive towards police. A pre-sentence report was ordered and the matter was adjourned until October 24.

WILCOX, Barry Gordon, a 66 year old from Scone appeared in court on a charge of sexually touch another person without consent. The alleged offence occurred on June 7 at approximately 12pm in Scone. The matter was adjourned until September 19, with a plea to be entered.

WILLIAMS, Campbell Angus, a 24 year old from Murrurundi, had previously pled guilty to a charge of drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol. The offence occurred on June 15 at approximately 11:30pm in Walgett when Mr Williams returned a breath analysis reading of 0.170. Police observed Mr Williams crossing onto the wrong side of the road as he rounded a corner. Mr Williams told police he had consumed approximately 10 cans of full strength beer between 4:40pm and 11pm. Mr Williams did not appear in Scone Court and Magistrate Donnelly warned, “he is not excused on the next occasion, he has to be here”. The matter was adjourned until October 24.

WITNEY, Justine Maree, a 37 year old from Merriwa, pled not guilty to charges of destroy or damage property, drive under the influence of alcohol and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The alleged offences occurred on January 26 in Merriwa when damage was caused to a rear bumper bar of motor vehicle the property of Carol McLoughlin. It is also alleged Ms Witney drove on Range Road, Merriwa under the influence of alcohol and assaulted a person causing her actual bodily harm to her. The matters were part heard and adjourned until January 2020.

WRIGHT, Leonie, a 47 year old from Scone appeared and pled not guilty to charges of drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood and use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order. The alleged offence of drive motor vehicle with illicit drug present in blood occurred on April 21 at approximately 11:30pm when Ms Wright tested positive to methylamphetamine. The alleged offence of possess a prohibited weapon occurred on March 31 at approximately 7pm in Scone when Ms Wright was in possession of knuckle dusters. The matters were adjourned until October 24.