A man who was caught drug driving twice in less than two months has been fined $1200 and lost his licence for 12 months.
Joel Daniel Edwards, 27, of Numurkah, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to two counts of drug driving and one of possessing methamphetamines.
Prosecutor Constable Victoria Lennon told the court police pulled the P-plater over on March 5 last year in Lemnos Rd, Lemnos for a routine licence check.
A drug test at the same time showed methamphetamines in his oral fluid.
Constable Lennon said Edwards told police at the time he had used about two points of ice three days earlier, and that he was driving to get to work.
The court heard on April 30, 2021, he told police he was “taking clothes to a friend” after he again tested positive to methamphetamines while driving.
Constable Lennon said police found methamphetamines and an ice pipe when they searched Edwards’ ute in Numurkah after they had earlier spotted his vehicle parked outside a house “known for drug activity” on May 19, 2021.
Edwards’ solicitor Bec Park said her client had started smoking methamphetamines 18 months to two years ago, initially socially but had become addicted and his use “got out of control”.
When he was charged with the first drug driving offence, he had been working as an arborist through a recruitment company, but lost his job when he tested positive to a job drug test.
After he lost his job, Ms Park said his “drug habit increased and life spiralled out of control”.
She told the court Edwards hit rock bottom and was hospitalised in October 2021, with the hospitalisation serving as a “wake-up call” and that Edwards had stopped using drugs since.
Ms Park said Edwards had also cut all ties with his negative peer group.
She asked for no conviction to be recorded as Edwards did not have any criminal convictions and top have one would affect his future job prospects.
Edwards was fined $1200 and ordered to pay $129.30 in court costs, but no conviction was recorded.
His licence was also cancelled for 12 months, starting from July 2021.