Luke Michael Otto pleads guilty to drug driving

A man convicted of three drug driving offences in quick succession is lucky he will not be in jail for Christmas.

Luke Michael Otto has faced court on multiple drug driving charges.

A man who smoked two points of meth before getting behind the wheel because he wasn’t feeling well and “wanted a pick-me-up” has faced court on multiple drug driving charges.

Man faces court for obstructing police

On April 2, 2022, Luke Michael Otto was stopped by police on Ridgeway St, Childers, where he was drug tested and returned a positive result for meth and cannabis.

Drug world assault ends in court

On May 15, he was at it again. Otto was driving home from the shops when he given a random drug test and was again positive for those two drugs.

The court heard on that occasion, Otto told police he‘d been prescribed medicinal cannabis but had also taken two points of meth because he wasn’t well and needed a “pick-me-up”.

Luke Michael Otto.

On June 10, Otto was on a disqualified licence when he again tested positive to drugs during a random roadside check. He admitted to police he had drugs in his system, and analysis revealed the presence of both meth and cannabis.

Then on September 1, a search warrant at Otto‘s home found a small amount of cannabis, which he admitted to police.

There were also broken glass pipes with burnt residue and some water pipes, the court heard.

In Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Otto pleaded guilty to three counts of drug driving, one count of driving without a licence, one count of possessing utensils and one count of possessing a dangerous drug.

In sentencing, Magistrate Edwina Rowan said it was worrying that Otto had used drugs the same day he’d driven.

“Mr Otto, the most concerning aspect of this is there were three drug driving offences in very quick succession,” she said.

Ms Rowan said Otto’s history showed he was someone who had battled drug addiction and while his history explained his behaviour, it did not excuse it.

Otto was handed a head sentence of six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 12 months’ probation.

He was disqualified from driving for one year for each of his drug driving offences.

For driving disqualified, he was disqualified for two years.

Otto was convicted but not further punished for possessing pipes or utensils.