By Emily-Rose Toohey
At Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday, a man pleaded guilty to one count of driving while relevant drug was present in system.
The incident happened on Monday 18 April earlier this year (over the Easter long weekend) on the Cunningham Highway at Gladfield.
He was driving a Mazda when police pulled the man over for a roadside drug test, where Methamphetamine and cannabis were detected in his saliva.
He was subsequently transported back to Warwick Police Station and Police Prosecutor Andrew Grafton said he was cooperative.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said although the man was lawfully prescribed cannabis, it made no difference.
“You cannot drive with relevant drug in system and you cannot combine the two,” Magistrate Sturgess said.
As a result, the man was given an $800 fine and a loss of license.
Furthermore, a 22-year-old Warwick male was charged with and pleaded guilty to 18 counts of supplying dangerous drugs between 19 February and 18 March this year.
He was also charged with driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s license – he had never held a license.
Magistrate Sturgess noted that the 22-year-old had some mental health issues and was self-medicating, but that did not excuse supplying drugs to others.
The man was subsequently placed on probation for 15 months and fined $1192, with no conviction being recorded.
Furthermore, a 23-year-old Warwick woman was charged with possessing a knife in public, three counts of stealing, and two counts of unauthorised dealing with shop goods.
On 29 and 30 January, three bottles of alcohol were stolen from Criterion Cellars at Rose City Shoppingworld.
On 31 January, tobacco was stolen from Spanos, on 1 February another bottle of wine was stolen from Criterion Cellars, and on 7 February, she stole cigarettes from FoodWorks Westside.
The woman was also found possessing a knife on Wood Street.
As a result, she was placed on nine months of probation and required to undertake court-mandated health sessions for a second time.
Magistrate Sturgess said that this was the most attractive option.
“But if she doesn’t want to participate then it’s a waste of everyone’s time,” Magistrate Sturgess said.
“It would appear that her life has been quite chaotic and with limited positive adult support.”
Moreover, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to one count of supplying dangerous drugs.
493g of cannabis (ordered by the man) was sent to Warwick Post Office and due to the smell, staff contacted police.
When questioned by police, the man said he had ordered jeans and a t-shirt before admitting the parcel’s true nature at the station.
He said it was to assist with pain and health issues after an incident that occurred last year, and that he never intended to do anything but use it for himself.
However, Magistrate Sturgess said drugs were not the way to deal with those issues.
“Seek appropriate medical advice for pain and lingering psychological effects,” she said.
He was given a $1200 fine and no conviction was recorded.
