Former ATO and Immigration department employee sentenced for driving on meth while disqualified

He was an ATO and immigration officer for more than 10 years – but his lawyer said a “fall from grace” led him to driving while high on meth.

A former public servant whose life took a “tragic” turn has been spared immediate jail for a number of driving offences – including while high on “self medicating” meth.

On Monday, Jake Anthony Rathjen, 44, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to be sentenced, his counsel Christos Pouras detailed the Kilburn man’s personal “fall from grace”.

“Mr Rathjen has under gone what can only be described as a significant period of instability in his life over the past five years or thereabouts, and it was a combination of factors that impacted significantly on his mental health,” Mr Pouras said.

The court heard these factors included a breakdown in a relationship, the loss of his home through “significant” civil proceedings, the loss of his employment and pets.

The court heard Jake Anthony Rathjen, 44, lost his home as a result of civil proceedings, and his pets. Photo: Facebook

“Over this period of instability and homelessness, he has engaged quite clearly in substance abuse, in particular methamphetamine, as a means to cope with his adverse mental health in an effort to self-medicate,” Mr Pouras said.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of driving with methamphetamine in system, two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving while disqualified after drug driving disqualification, failing to comply with a bail agreement and a breach of bond.

The court heard Rathjen’s offending was also in breach of a District Court suspended sentence for drug trafficking.

Mr Pouras said his client had driven the same day he had been handed a suspended sentence for driving with a disqualified licence in an effort to “render assistance” to his former partner in an “emergency”.

The court heard during an incident on October 18, 2022, Rathjen drove over to his ex’s Davoren Park home after he was told she was at risk of harm.

Mr Pouras said as his client tried to leave in a hurry after collecting her, an “accident” occurred and his partner’s housemate was struck by the car.

The 39-year-old man from Davoren Park was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment after sustaining head injuries.

The court also heard Rathjen had been caught on one occasion driving in breach of his disqualification in an effort to move a valuable vintage car into storage while his possessions were repossessed.

Mr White agreed with Mr Pouras that Rathjen’s personal circumstances were “tragic” and “awful” and sentenced him for all offences to a cumulative three months and 19 days imprisonment.

Prosecutors submitted they opposed the sentence being suspended, while Mr Pouras submitted his client had recently found “stability” and had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Mr White found good reason to suspend the sentence on a two-year, supervised good behaviour bond.