Man made to pay 10 year taxi fare

AAP

A MAN has been ordered by the courts to pay back $27 he owed a taxi driver after running out on a cab fare almost 10 years ago.

The long-term debt will finally be settled after 42-year-old Robert William Walker faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court this week.

The Fraser Coast resident pleaded guilty to six charges, including evading the taxi fare.

Each of the offences occurred around the Bundaberg region in 2000.

He was ordered to pay $27.30 to a Bundaberg cab driver over the incident at Burnett Heads on August 1 that year.

The court heard Walker had cleaned up his act since he committed the string of offences a decade ago.

Back then, a relationship breakdown led him to heavy substance abuse, defence lawyer John Milburn said.

Walker also pleaded guilty to failing to correctly dispose of syringes after police found five hypodermic needles at his Agnes Water home.

He told the officers he’d hosted a tattoo party at the caravan park where he used to stay and had used the needles to administer anaesthetic to his “customers”.

The needles were found in a bumbag slung over a bedpost.

It seems a far cry from the quiet life the grandfather of four is said to lead today.

Walker was further charged with contravening a direction after he gave Bundaberg police a fake name and a Brisbane address in July, 2000.

He was caught driving unlicensed that day and the fake name led to stint in the watch-house, the court heard.

In September, Walker again gave police a false name when he was stopped for a random breath test.

He later told the officers he’d been covering for his defacto partner who was also in the car and was wanted on a warrant.

Mr Milburn described Walker today as “happy, healthy and well-settled”, with a successful job.

He said he hadn’t had been before the courts since 2000.

Acting Magistrate Dennis Beutel said it was refreshing to see someone turn their life around.

“I take into account you have changed your life around and I congratulate you on that,” Mr Beutel said.

He fined Walker $1600 for the six charges but did not disqualify him from driving.